The Maricopa Mambas 12u football team won the state championship on Saturday in its inaugural season.
The team defeated the Peoria Panthers, 30-13, in a game played at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix.
The Mambas, a team of 10- to 12-year-olds, were supposed to launch their first season in the spring. They practiced hard for months, but one week before competition was to begin, the season was postponed by the coronavirus pandemic.
When youth sports got the green light to proceed, they resumed practice ahead of a fall season.
Michael Karriker is head coach, assisted by Joe Richardson, Carl Lamour, Delvon Margerum and Daniel James.
Angie Rabenberg Kellum, who has two sons on the team, posted a video from the post-game championship celebration on Facebook.
Her post drew a number of congratulatory comments from supporters.
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