January 14, 2025
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Joliet Ravens win 12-and-under United Youth Football League national title

8-and-under squad is national runner-up

The Joliet Ravens 12-and-under team recently captured the national title at the United YFL Championships.

The Joliet Ravens 12-and-under team recently captured the national title at the United YFL Championships. (Photo )

The Joliet Ravens recently had three qualifiers reach the United Youth Football League national tournament stage, with its 12-and-under team winning national championship honors in its division.

The Ravens 8-and-under team took second place, while the 10-and-under squad finished third.

To qualify for the national tournament, teams must win their youth football league’s conference title. The Ravens participate in the Northern Illinois United Youth Football League.

The national champion 12-and-under squad earned the title by defeating the Staten Island Hurricanes, 20-13, in the championship game as Davion Thompson threw three touchdown passes to Rontez Smith.

The path to the championship included wins over the Back River Bulls (New Jersey), TCU Bulldogs (Texas) and Lower Buck Outlaws (Pennsylvania).

Team members are Brian Miller, Jaylen McMiller, Brandon Johnson Jr., Frankee Piechonka, David Croom, Shamaje Kizer, Kamal Bryant, Davion Thompson, Jacob Baker, Mason Bucon, Norman Sullivan, Derrick Pomatto, Trinton Smith, Jarell Thompson, Rontez Smith, Jack Arnold, Andrew Heisterman, Gregory Bell, Thomas Dowda, Max Candelas, Carron Brandon, Max Gonzalez and Jaden Montgomery.

The Joliet Ravens 8-and-under Youth Football team finished second at the United YFL Nationals recently. (Photo contributed)

The Ravens 8-and-under team beat MOT Cowboys (Florida), 19-7, in the opening round and beat the Staten Island Hurricanes (New York), 14-12, before losing in the final to NW Young Kings (Maryland), 26-20.

Team members are Isaiah Jackson, DaMarion Thomas, D’moni Noel, Bruce Powell, Owen Holzman, Jason Smith, Izrael Azrael, Kelvon Tanzy Jr., Cole Bradford, Dace Jones, Donati Luckett, Mason Hannan, Kentaivious Moffett, Malakai Persich, Kyree Patrick, Sean Stanish and Blaze Cabage.

The Ravens 10-and-under team took third place with a 13-6 win over Woodbridge Edison (New Jersey). They beat the Virginia Bucs and Shovel Boyz (Maryland) in the opening rounds before losing to the Southfield Falcons (Michigan) in the semifinals.

Team members are Jayden Malone, Jacob Warefield, Cash Wetencamp, Kimyra Patrick, Terrell Jackson, Da’Jon Moss, Azarian Crother, Jordan Puckett, Aidan Sonney, Davion White, Edward Hendricks, Danny Huerta and Gerald Stewart lll.


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