Camas Pop Warner Super Bowl Fund

The Camas 18

Back in August, 18 boys padded up for a new season of football.  With the usual air of excitement and enthusiasm, the boys faced their competition with typical Camas tenacity.  Coupled with coaches that emphasized heart and an unyielding spirit, the boys found themselves winning big games.  

Throughout the post season playoffs they often found themselves underdogs to fierce competition.  In classic underdog style, they rose to the occassion and continued to win the big games. 

For the first time in Camas Jets history, the team has qualified for the Pop Warner Super Bowl.  The boys are now working hard to raise funds for airfare, hotel and food for the competition that will be held December 3-10 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.  By winning the NW Regional Division III Championship on November 20, it gives the boys just 11 days to raise the funds they need.  

We are working toward ensuring there will be enough funds to cover all players and the volunteer coaches.  All funds will be collected by Pop Warner, which is a 501(c), allowing contributions to be tax deductible.

With this bunch you'll find that winning is important, but character is foundational.  It's now more than a team, it's a family.  Any help to provide for this lifelong memory opportunity would be received with the deepest gratitude.





From Coach Robert:
In August of 2016, Camas Pop Warner Jets fielded a team of just 16 10-11 year old boys. The minimum number of players to create a team is 16. That meant if someone got hurt, if someone was sick, or if someone had any other emergency and had to miss a game, our team would have to forfeit. We coaches met with the 16 parents. We looked at the possibility of breaking the team up into other Pop Warner Teams. We looked at joining other leagues. The parents decided unanimously that they were all in, and wanted to keep the boys together. Some of the boys had been playing together for 6 years. The thought of breaking them up was simply too much to bear. So the rag tag group buckled down. Many of the boys played both offense and defense. Fortune smiled and we picked up 2 more players. Everyone worked hard. Even the coaches were unsure of any real chances of success. Really, it didn't matter to us. The staff just tried to teach the boys life lessons and guide them along the way to being football players of good character. But then it happened. We started winning. No one was expecting it, even the coaches. Time and time again, we started beating more talented and larger teams than ourselves. Sure we have some talented players, but not compared to some of the teams we were facing. Yet each week, we kept winning. The boys formed a brotherhood, and overcame their opponents with heart, courage, love of teammates, and good old fashion grit. Now, here we are. At the end of our journey in Washington. On December 2nd, we travel to Orlando to compete in the national championships. ESPN will be broadcasting the game on TV. Local news agencies are asking for stories. No other Camas team has ever made it to Orlando. Yet this rag tag group of the team that almost never was has made history. It will be an expensive trip. The financial strain will be heavy on some of the families. If you want to help the Camas 18 write the final chapter in their long quest, please consider donating below. I never was much of a great football player, to be completely honest. But coaching these fine young men has been one of my life's greatest honors. Heroes of the day, legends forever. For long after these boys are gone, after Orlando, after scoreboards, touchdowns, and pizza parties, the memory of the Camas 18 and their historical trip will be with this little community forever. I know I'll never forget the 18 little misfits that ascended together to greatness.