The Brick City Lions fell 30-20 to an Illinois squad in the championship game on Friday
NEWARK - The Brick City Lions came up just short on their impressive run at a national championship.
The Newark Pop Warner football club's Division II Pee Wee team, made up of 32 players between 9 and 11, fell to the Hoffman Estates (Ill.) Redhawks 30-20 during the title game at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Friday.
The team had won both of its previous matchups since arriving in Florida last week, defeating teams from Washington and Rhode Island without giving up a point.
This is the second straight year a Lions team traveled to the national Pop Warner championship. A squad that competed in 2014 fell in an opening round game.
The trip to Florida nearly never came for the Lions, who were able to raise more than $30,000 to cover airfare, hotels and other expenses last week.
Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
