Four Oro Valley youth football teams will be competing in the Tucson American Youth Football City Championship games Saturday, Nov. 12, at Cienega High School in Vail.
The Oro Valley Dolphins currently have five divisions participating in regular league play: the Mighty Mites, ages 7-9; the Cadets, ages 9-10; Jr. Pee Wee, ages 10-11; Pee-Wee, ages 11-12; and Jr. Midgets, ages 12-14.
Of those, four will be representing Oro Valley in this weekend’s competitions.
The Jr. Pee Wee team is trying to win back-to-back City Championships. If they win this weekend, they will head to Florida to compete in the American Youth Football (AYF) National Championships.
Tom Nager, head coach of the Jr. Pee Wee team, said he is excited for his team.
“We are currently 11-0 and have had an undefeated record for two years in a row. We are hoping to make it to 12-0. If we win City (this weekend), we qualify to go to nationals, which would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many players.”
After Saturday’s competition, the Jr. Pee Wee team will host a hoedown, which will serve as the team’s primary fundraising event for the season.
It will be held at a private house, and will feature a mechanical bull, food and drinks, and live and silent auctions. Nager explained that the money from this event would go toward the team’s next game, which will take place out of Tucson regardless if they win on Saturday.
Tickets are $25 a person or $40 per couple. Nager is proud of the community. He gives thanks to “the many local groups who have been donating and helping us put the hoedown together.”
For more information, call Jenny Zelt at 490-3762.





