By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
November 30, 2011

Della Lamb Saints third graders ended with a perfect football season this year: 17-0.

The unstoppable football team clinched championship titles in several area tournaments, including the 2011 NYSSO Kick-Off Classic Championship, the 2011 NYSSO Tournament of Champions/National Qualifier Championship, the 2011 NYSSO National Championship and the 2011 Blue Valley Football Club League Championship.

On Nov. 20, the third graders added one more title to its list: champion of the Battle in Rocky Top Youth Football Classic held in Knoxville, Tenn. Only the best of the best attended the national tournament.

“It brought tears to my eyes, it really did because I was so proud of them,” Coach David Barnett said of the winning game. “They worked so hard – four months (practice) is a long time.”

This was the first time the team competed outside of Kansas or Missouri and the 20-hour bus ride was worth it.

During the Rocky Top tournament, the boys played three games and shut out their opponents each time. Della Lamb played its final game in the eight and under category against the Trotwood Rams of Dayton, Ohio. During the game, the boys played “great defense,” he said.

The final winning play was a 45-yard reception return for a touchdown, Barnett said. Final score was 6-0.

“Everybody was just so excited,” Barnett said. “The fans went crazy and the kids were jumping around. It was something else. It’s a once in a lifetime thing that they’ll never forget.”