In the Hill House High School Fieldhouse on Tuesday night, 27 young men ran drill after drill. Their minds were focused on three things: "Disney, football, a championship," Andre Anderson, 13, said.
The New Haven teens won regionals in a double overtime game against a Malden, Mass., team this past weekend to qualify for the national championship next week at Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
"They worked hard, they played hard and they deserve to go," said Head Coach Daryel Barros.
That means it's "4th and goal" for the team, but the goal is a lofty one. To get down to Florida, they need to raise $30,000. By Friday.
The players are pooling their cash.
"I already have $100," said Derrick Gilliam, 14.
But each player needs to raise $550 to pay for the bus, hotel and food to get down to Disney.
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"We've been fundraising around our neighborhoods and people that we know, places that we know," said Harold Cooper, 13.
The coaches are putting out the call that more help is needed.
"Money, money, help, donations, sponsorships, whatever anyone would like to do," said Coach Barros. "It would be a big help for our kids."
Many of these same kids made it to Florida last year, but the team came up short, finishing third.
"They came back this year just to go back," said Barros. "And I think they deserve the chance to go back."
"It means a lot. It means we can show people what we got," Cooper said. "We're trying to be ranked number one in the nation."
Some of them look at the trip as the first step.
"Everybody on this team knows I'm trying to go the NFL," Gilliam said.
It's also a chance to be part of something bigger than themselves.
"I am trying to win a championship for me and my team, and for the first time in the organization," Anderson said.
If you would like to help by donating to the team, you can drop off donations at New Haven Pop Warner headquarters at 181 Tanglewood Drive, Hamden, CT 06518 or call Coach Daryel Barros at 203-812-0936.
