Football: Loudoun Middle School Players with Shot at National Title

(Nov. 29, 2012) – 19 middle school football players from Loudoun have dreams of a national championship as they take the field for the Northern Virginia team in the Football University National Championship - the football version of the Little League World Series— which kicks off this weekend with over 20 games across the nation.

The local team faces Central Virginia on Sat. Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. at Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C. A win would advance the team to a second round game on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. against the winner of Saturday's Eastern North Carolina vs. Maryland match-up.

Loudoun players include: Matthew Branson, Mason Gryniuk, Kadin Kightlinger, John Allerton, Russell Blackwell, Jack Candelaria, Joseph Candelaria, Tyler Draddy, Kashmiere Jackson, Johnny Jordan, Cameron Kilgour, Chima Kpaduwa, Chris Lants, Braden Nesselrodt, Andrew Perry, Will Ramey, Daniel Renaud, Blake Thomas and Joshua Vanderhoof.

The largest national football championship ever assembled to determine the nation’s top 7th-grade and 8th-grade football team has expanded to 64 teams competing in an NCAA-style bracket tournament to select a true national champion in youth football’s 8th and 7TH-grade division.

The Football University National Championship kicks off Dec. 1 at various locations across America with the winners advancing in this single-elimination tournament that features 64 state-based teams. The first four rounds will take place at regional sites and the semifinals and championship will take place January 5th and 6th, respectively, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas as part of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl week celebration.

This year’s tournament will be the biggest youth football tournament ever put together, featuring an expansion to 64 teams nationwide, including more than 250 games, 6,000 athletes, and 1,200 coaches. The tournament will showcase 250 games through a four-week period, resulting in more than 1,000 hours of content.

All American Games will also produce a “Sports Center” style studio show, providing detailed, round-by-round updates and news, hosted by long-time national TV/radio announcer Neil Sika. All American Games executives are currently in discussions with numerous web and broadcast partners. With webcasts of each game along with the studio show, All-American Games plans to produce more than 350 hours of content.

The Championship Tournament is produced by All American Games and its premier national training academy, Football University (FBU). The 7th-grade and 8th-grade teams are comprised of the top 35 all-star athletes from various regions throughout the United States, who try-out to qualify for the 64 7th grade or 8th grade regional teams. Athletes are identified through FBU’s network of state tournament directors from more than 40 FBU camps in various U.S. cities, and through those nominated on the tournament’s page located at www.footballuniversity.org.

National sponsors of the FBU National Championship include: Eastbay – The official apparel sponsor, adidas, SKLZ Performance, School of the Legends, U.S. Army, Gatorade, Battle Sports Science, Big Shots, Jersey Mike’s, Xenith Helmets, and Youth Football Coaches Association (YFBCA).

All American Games, LLC: Wharton, N.J.-based All American Games owns and produces elite youth/prep national sporting events and properties including the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Football University, FBU National Championship, Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl, and American Baseball University. Web: www.allamericangames.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/USArmyAllAmericanBowl & www.facebook.com/FootballUniversity.