Dartmouth 8U Pop Warner Claims Super Bowl Championship with Grit and Determination

On Saturday, November 16, the Dartmouth 8U Pop Warner team traveled to Cranston, Rhode Island to take on the New Bedford Bears in a thrilling Super Bowl showdown.

Under the guidance of head coach Sam Blevines, Dartmouth emerged victorious with a hard-fought 20-12 win, securing a championship title and extending its impressive season.

The team's season had been filled with highlights, starting at Gillette Stadium and culminating in Cranston with a championship victory. For Coach Blevines, who is also the president of the Dartmouth Football League, the experience was surreal.

“Taking the field on Super Bowl Sunday is unreal,” he said.

Blevines led his team to the championship in his first Super Bowl appearance after nearly a decade as head coach.

As the players warmed up that morning, they received a surprise that set the tone for the day – a special FaceTime call from former Dartmouth High star and NFL player Jordan Todman.

Thanks to a connection with Dartmouth coach Jerome Penha, Todman offered the young athletes words of encouragement just 30 minutes before kickoff.

"It was amazing," Blevines said. "The kids were so excited and it definitely gave them a boost."

The game was nothing short of a nail-biter. Dartmouth won the coin toss and opted to start on defense, but the New Bedford Bears quickly made their presence known, scoring a long touchdown on just their second play. Yet Dartmouth remained unfazed, embodying the "DEA mindset" that Coach Blevines has emphasized all season – discipline, effort and attitude.

“Our boys didn’t waver,” Blevines said. “We’ve been preaching all year that the only things they can control are discipline, effort, and attitude, and they truly embraced that.”

After an early back-and-forth, Dartmouth fought to regain control. Despite a fumble during their first offensive possession, they rallied and found the end zone twice before halftime, entering the break with a narrow 14-12 lead.

In a crucial moment, Dartmouth's defense held strong, preventing New Bedford from converting a two-point kick after a touchdown – a strategy that ultimately led to the championship win.

As the game wore on, Dartmouth extended its lead with another touchdown, bringing the score to 20-12. In the final minutes, the team successfully held off the Bears’ last push, securing the championship victory.

With the Super Bowl win behind them, Dartmouth now sets its sights on the next challenge: the Regional Championships in Worcester at Foley Stadium next Saturday, where they will face the Hamden Hurricanes from Connecticut.

Adding a touch of magic to their Super Bowl victory was an unexpected flyover of sorts. As the team took the field, a bald eagle was spotted soaring above in a moment that many took as a good omen.

“It was almost like a military flyover,” Blevines laughed. “My wife Jen swears she sees things like that all the time but this time, everyone confirmed it.”

As they prepare for Regionals, the Dartmouth 8U team carries the momentum of its championship win, ready to face whatever challenges come the team's way.