The Mo Better Jaguars from Brownsville are back in Brooklyn with a Pop Warner Super Bowl championship trophy in tow.
The youth football team defeated Georgia’s Titletown Titans 13-7 in Orlando last week, capping off a dramatic journey that began with a financial hurdle.
Just two weeks ago, the Jaguars made headlines when they qualified for the Super Bowl but lacked the funds to travel to Florida. Though, thanks to community support, they made the trip—and came back champions.
“They did everything I expected them to do,” said coach Keither Lackerson during an interview on “Mornings On 1.” “I’m super proud of them.”
Lackerson on Monday appeared alongside four players: Owen, Kimoni, Dylan and Ron, who emerged as a star with a crucial one-handed catch on fourth down during the championship game.
“I just had to hang on to it, make the catch. And plus, it was fourth down. I had to get the first down conversion,” Ron said.
When asked whether they dream of one day playing professional football, all four boys quickly answered, “yeah.”
But the team isn’t just learning how to play football, said Lackerson. He also strives to teach them life lessons along the way.
“Just adversity. We faced it to get here. We faced it during our games. So just always being able to overcome the hard times,” he said.