Local Pop Warner team makes trip to holiday tourney

MAT-SU — The Mat-Su Steelers have created quite the holiday tradition for a group of its young football players.

Players on the local Pop Warner midget squad spent their Thanksgiving in Las Vegas, Nev., and the Steelers won a pair of major awards after competing in the three-day Las Vegas Pigskin Tournament.

The event, sponsored by the National Youth Football League, included 128 youth teams from across the country. Mat-Su finished second in the Southwest Division and earned the event’s grand championship for sportsmanship and heart.

The Steelers, a team that includes a group of 11-15 year olds from across the Mat-Su Valley, made a trip outside for the sixth consecutive year. Mat-Su Steelers head coach Clint Spencer said the program has committed to making the trip an annual tradition.

“It’s a way to get them to play on the next level,” Spencer said recently. “It’s a higher platform before they go to high school. They meet a lot of players, make some friendships.”

The Steelers — a team that features players from all over the Valley — have traveled to Seattle, Wash., and North Carolina to play in tournaments in years past, but this year opted to return to Las Vegas to play in the Pigskin Tournament, the biggest event of its kind in the country, Spencer said.

“It’s a great tournament,” Spencer said.

The Steelers played six games in three days, often playing their games back-to-back. Mat-Su clinched second place in its division with a 20-16 come-from-behind win over the Phoenix (Ariz.) Stars. Spencer said the Steelers were down 16-0 in the third quarter, and used an interception and fumble recovery to put together 20 unanswered points.

“It’s probably the best game I’ve been a part of as a coach,” Spencer said.

Spencer is fond of his team’s finish, but particularly proud of the 6-foot trophy the Steelers earned for sportsmanship.

“I want the kids to play with heart and sportsmanship,” Spencer said.

Spencer said his team created sportsmanship medals to present to the teams they played. He said that caught the attention of many who were at the Las Vegas event.

Spencer said the local youth program takes 18 players to the postseason tournament. If the Steelers don’t have 18 players of their own, they invite players from other local teams. The Steelers raise funds throughout the year for the trip.

“The kids work hard, and the parents come up with their fare share too,” Spencer said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/matsu_sports.