(BLACK PR WIRE) (February 2, 2010) MIAMI - The hometown team—the Firebirds—of Miami defeated the Tulare Youth Athletic Association representing Oakland, 26-24 in the 12-14 year-old boys’ division of the 2009 NFL FLAG National Tournament of Champions finals at Game Day Fan Plaza at Sun Life Stadium on Pro Bowl Sunday. 

In the girls’ 12-14 division, the Lions from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, who qualified through the Detroit Regional, defeated the WASUP Lady Raiders from Henderson, Nev., 6-0.
North Miami Beach’s Mo Steel Juniors defeated the Falcons of Round Rock, Texas in the boys’ 9-11 division by a score of 26-20.

9-11 Co-Ed
9-11 Co-ed: Mo Steel Juniors/
Miami, FL
Def.
9-11 Co-ed: Round Rock Falcons/ Round Rock, TX
26-20

12-14 Girls
12-14 Girls: Hamilton Lions/ Stoney Creek, ON, Canada
Def.
12-14 Girls: WASUP Lady Raiders/ Henderson, NV
6-0 12-14 Boys
12-14 Boys: Firebirds/ Miami, FL
Def.
12-14 Boys: Tulare Youth Athletic Association/ Tulare, CA
26-24


Mo Steel Juniors, Boys 9-11
Joey Block
Belochi Lacombe
Everett Levy
Jacob Mars
Bradley Moskovitz
Bram Osman
Avi Parrino
Jonathan Rose
Joseph Wolf


Hamilton Lions, Girls 12-14
Francesca Cutullie
Marissa Eco
Kristen Farkas
Faith Gallant
Michaela Ionni
Breanne Stamenga
Alexia Tam
Aleesa Van Veen
Jenna Woodworth


Firebirds, Boys 12-14
Isaac Benoliel
Joell Broadsky
Steven Feld
Alex Froimzon
Daniel Furmanski
Joseph Ginzburg
Andrew Heldenmuth
Jake Neyjar
Nathaniel Roob
Austin Stadford



NFL players Patrick Willis and Takeo Spikes (San Francisco 49ers) were on hand to provide support to all the competitors. All participating teams were recognized on-field prior to Pro Bowl kickoff.
More than 130,000 youngsters across the country played NFL FLAG this year. Twenty-four teams advanced to the National Championship tournament. All teams qualified by winning their NFL FLAG regional tournament in October and November. NFL FLAG teaches values and life skills on and off the field to more than 130,000 children each year. NFL FLAG is a non-contact version of traditional football and is offered for boys and girls ages 5-17 in cities across the country. The program emphasizes safety, fun, teamwork, self-esteem, discipline and goal-setting.

ESPN and ESPN2 will televise the NFL FLAG National Tournament of Champions on March 7 at 3:30 pm and March 25 at 7:00 pm, respectively. In addition, NFL Network will televise the tournament this spring. 

To learn more about NFL FLAG, visit www.nflyouthfootball.com or www.NFLRUSH.com.