Hundreds of youth football players took the River Ridge High School field Saturday to play for the top title of their division: Superbowl Champs.

“They’re excited,” said Pasco Police Athletic League Executive Director Keith Morris. “We range from 5 years old to 14 years old and they’re extremely excited today.”

But the football players of the Pasco Police Athletic League are coming together for more than trophies and bragging rights.

“We have gone through some different tragedies,” said River Ridge Knights Secretary Lisa Howard.

Youth football PPAL team New Port Richey Buccaneers had their safe stolen earlier this year. River Ridge Knight Donavin Wolf was diagnosed with cancer.

“We’ve also had some members of our PAL board and our PAL family taken too soon,” Howard said. “So we’ve come together in celebration today, to celebrate all those tragedies and to come together as something good in the community.”

The adults involved hope to teach these kids more than football. They hope they learn camaraderie and compassion.

“We’re here to mentor these children,” Morris said. “We’re here for the kids and to make sure those kids have a great support system.”

The kids rallied around one another.

“We’re always playing for Donavin,” said River Ridge Knight Alan Fox. “It’s for everybody who wants to play but can’t play.”

The players say their teams are like family.

“If you join football and you’re on a team, you get that many more brothers,” River Ridge Knight Ethan Rice said.

Though Donavin is too sick to play, he was one of the team captains. He stood by his brothers for the coin toss and cheered from the sidelines.

The River Ridge Knights won 33-0.