In perhaps the toughest face-off of their 2008 football season, the Eighth Grade MAMFA Predators D-III team declared victory over the Arvada Bulldogs in a gut-wrenching conference championship game in Arvada on Saturday.

"The game was perfect the way it played out with our defense playing lights out, our running game dominating the clock and churning out yards, and our kick-off team keeping Arvada in check," said Head Coach David Leek in an interview after the game. "The final score was 22-12 which means a perfect 10 - 0 for the season and we are the Carnation Bowl Champions. Along the way we scored 408 points and only allowed 48 points over 10 games and had untold amounts of fun," he said.

Both teams earned the right to fight for the championship title, with first-ranked Predators defending their 8-0 regular season and the second ranked Arvada Bulldogs finishing their regular season 7-1, losing only to the Predators 36-22 earlier in the season. The Bulldogs were fully prepared to strip the Predators of their undefeated season.

The first half of the game was a defensive struggle. Predators took the lead when Fullback Connor Kissler came smashing up the middle into the end zone. The extra point attempt was blocked leaving the half-time score 6-0 Predators.

In the third quarter, the Predators gave Arvada the ball on the Predators 20 yard line after a failed punt attempt. Arvada scored in three plays which tied the score at 6-6 after Arvada's 2-point extra point attempt failed.

The Predators regrouped under head coach Leek and mounted their best offensive attack of the game, getting back to the basic smash-mouth football, where the offense was sent running right up the middle on nearly every play. Drake Weber scored the touchdown and Tyler Curtis added the 2 point conversion, the Predators took a 14 - 6 lead into the 4th quarter. The Predators continued their offensive attack scoring again to take a 22 - 6 lead with 4 minutes left in the game after an interception by Hunter Shively gave the Predators great field position.

The Bulldogs were not ready to admit defeat and came back with a quick score after a brilliantly executed 45 yard screen pass. Their 2 point conversion failed making the score 22-12 with just over three minutes left in the game. The Bulldogs tried an onside kick which the Predators recovered. Once again the offensive line--- led by guard Don Fuller ---lead the attack and the Predators ran out the clock with their pounding ground game to seal the championship victory.

The Predators' fans screamed with excitement at the end of the game when the team was awarded the JMFA Conference (Jefferson County Midget Football Association) championship trophy. Evergreen Middle School Principal Kristopher Schuh was also on the sideline, "It was a great team win for our students in the Conifer and Evergreen mountain community. I was impressed with how many fans and supporters made the trip to Arvada to see the game." he said.

The game was originally scheduled to take place at Evergreen High School at 5:30 p.m. The location of the Championship game was changed on Friday night--- just hours before the game---when league officials became aware of an E coli outbreak in the mountains associated with elk droppings. "We are sorry for any inconvenience that was caused by the rescheduling and we realize there will be some people that did not get notice of the change," said Greg Kissler, team manager.

The Predators Division III team is comprised of eighth grade boys from Evergreen Middle School, The Montessori School of Evergreen, and West Jefferson Middle School. Team members are: Jack Collie, Tyler Curtis, Don Fuller, Jacob Hartz, Jason Keener, Thomas Kim, Connor Kissler, Brandon Leek, Austin Lohse, Ryan Nolan, Kian O'Shea, Nick Rodgers, Hunter Shively, Andrew Szugi, Josh Toler, Seth Trujillo, Drake Weber and Gage Wright. Coaches are David Leek, Doug Fuller, Tim Hermerley, Steve Kim, Anthony Nolan, Greg Kissler, team manager, Steve O'Shea, team manager and Pam O'Shea, team mom.