Dorchester Pop Warner team headed for Super Bowl: The Dorchester Pop Warner Junior Midget team of 12- and 13-year-old players won the regional championship last weekend by defeating the Hartford Hurricanes. The team will travel to Orlando, Florida this weekend to play in the national Pop Warner Super Bowl tournament. The league is seeking help from Dorchester residents and businesses to help defray the costs of the trip. Photo courtesy Jean Felix

The Dorchester Pop Warner junior midget team of 12 and 13 year-old players won the regional championship last weekend by defeating the Hartford Hurricanes, 29-6. The team will travel to Orlando, Florida this weekend to play in the national Pop Warner Super Bowl tournament at Disney World.

The Eagles will play their first round game on Sun., Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN3.

The team is seeking help from Dorchester residents and businesses to help defray the costs of the trip, which is expected to cost roughly $20,000. The team departs on a bus for Florida on Friday.

Mayor-elect Marty Walsh is one of the leaders rallying to the cause.

“This is Dorchester’s team and we need to support the Eagles,” said Walsh. “They’ve been to Disney a few times over the years and come close to the national championship— but this is a whole new group of kids. This is a great group and they deserve our help.”

Terry Cousins, president of the Eagles program, said that the team has impressed him with their level of play and sportsmanship.

“I’ve been doing this 17 years. This group of kids to me is very special. There are no superstars, they just play together well. There are no behavioral issues at all. To have 21 kids and say not one is a problem, that’s something.”

The Eagles will open tournament play on Sunday against the defending national champs from Liberty City, Florida.

“Last year, our kids got the best sportsmanship award from Walt Disney and that shows you how far the program has come. This a tremendous group of kids.”

The Eagles program has been to the national title game on two prior occasions in 2002 and 2005. Each time they lost the decisive game by a score of 6-0.

“We’ve been doing this a long time and I think we have the best running back in the country in Kion Tucker,” said Cousins. Our linebackers are way above average, the D-line is great. Even our kids who don’t start, they all play very well together.”

Those interested in supporting the program can send donations to Members Plus Credit Union, 494 Gallivan Blvd., Dorchester 02124, c/o the Dorchester Eagles.