Sonoma County PAL Golden Bears Mighty Mite squad playing for world title

They're tiny but tough.

The Redwood PAL Golden Bears Mighty Mite football squad - made up of 7- to 9-year-olds, all well under 100 pounds - is hoping to bring a world title to Sonoma County.

On Friday, the team is competing in the World Youth Championship title game in Canton, Ohio, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame football complex.

Given that the team is undefeated in 11 regular-season games, two regional contests and two tournament games this week in Canton, their chances seem good.

“It's the biggest stadium they've ever played in, for sure. The environment, the stage, will be huge,” head coach Thomas Carrell said by phone from Ohio. “But I expect my kinds to go in there unfazed. They're ready.”

The Bears face the Rosedale Tigers of Washington, D.C., who also won their regional bracket to advance to the championship game. And, like the Bears, they are also undefeated.

But the Sonoma County team has another weapon - an ironclad defense.

The team hasn't given up a point since some time during the regular season, so far back Carrell couldn't remember when.

In the regional game, the Bears defeated Bakersfield 44-0, then downed Vacaville 26-0 to advance to Canton. In two games there this week, they beat two East Coast teams just as handily - 31-0 over a New Jersey team and a 14-0 win over a New York squad.

They've been dominant, Carrell reluctantly acknowledges.

“I'd like to stay humble, but yeah, it's been awesome to see,” he said. “Nobody works harder than these kids. We put them through the gauntlet and they came through.”

Friday's 7 a.m. title game will be streamed live on the Youth Football Championship website and at www.collegesportslive.com.

Carrell has seen film of the Washington team and said it is formidable.

“They look big and fast, but so have all the other boys that have fallen victim,” he said. “Every team we've beaten in this tournament has been undefeated in their respective leagues.”

Pro football scouts started the tournament two years ago to give youth football teams a similar experience to baseball's Little League World Series.

“Youth football teams deserve a credible world championship event from a professional organization,” the organization says on its website. “Every day the debate rages on which teams are the best from across the world despite top teams rarely playing each other in real game competition. Youth football deserves a world-class character development program authored by the very best football to help young boys become great men.”

During the past few months, Pro Football Hall of Fame scouts have invited teams across the country to attend the regional tournaments.

This is the Redwood team's second year at the tournament. They lost in the consolation game last year.

Dean Fisk, president of the Redwood PAL Golden Bears Youth Football and Cheer organization, said this year's Mighty Mite team - coaches and the kids - is special, having used last year's experience to mature and learn what it takes to win on a larger scale.

“They've built a really strong foundation,” he said, “and the skills they're learning are transferring to the field. A lot of these kids have been practicing since spring. The tasted a little success last year and wanted more.”

Win or lose, Carrell said his young athletes have shown their mettle.

“They are incredibly tough, have a ton of heart,” he said. “They are a team that pound for pound, I'll take them over anybody. They've been in plenty of matchups when they've been outsized, but they've met every challenge put in front of them.”

You can reach staff writer Lori A. Carter at 707-521-5470 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com.