The Naperville Patriots Mighty Mites football team recorded a perfect 15-0 season, capped off by winning the Midwest Regional Football Classic Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio over Thanksgiving weekend.
The Midwest Tournament started off in dramatic fashion as the Patriots won on a last second touchdown over Mt. Airy, Ohio. Jacob Keller threw a pass to an open Mitch West to advance to the second round with a 12-6 victory.
The Patriots won the second round 12-6 over Mt. Lebanon, Pa. to advance to the championship game played at John Carroll University. The Patriots beat the Cleveland Cowboys 13-6 to win the championship in their weight class.
"I knew that I had a special team when nobody complained about our hard practices during the summer," Patriots Head Coach John Gaca said. "In my years of coaching, I have not seen a group of young men come together and work as a team to this extent. This was truly a special team and season."
Through the course of the 15-game season, the Mighty Mites scored 420 points, while only giving up 37.
Head Coach Gaca was assisted by Offensive Coach Jim McAlpine, Defensive Coach Matt Rayburn, Special Teams Coach Bennett West, Linemen Coaches Doug Grove and John Burkhart and Team Manager Andy Erickson.
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