Tampa FL- For the seventh time in the parks existence, the M.O.T Cowboys hoisted a youth football national championship, this time courtesy of their incredible junior pee wee team. The Cowboys (Jacksonville,FL) defeated the Homewood Flossmoor Vikings from Chicago Illinois 19-6 to win the division II junior pee wee crown. The Vikings had not lost a regular season game in two years coming into the contest. However, the Cowboys overwhelmed them with a plethora of weapons to which Homewood had no answer.
Led by defensive MVP Jordan Martin (DE), the Cowboys held the Vikings to just six points, their lowest point total of the season. Coupled with a very balanced offense, the Cowboys put the pressure on the Vikings with a high powered passing attack and high powered running attack. The passing attack was led by quarterback Rodney Tisdale. Tisdale would hook up with Jordan Martin, the Cowboys big play receiver in the championship game. On the ground, King Williams and offensive co-MVPs Rajon White and Donnell Rogers grounded out tough yards. In the end, running back Adron Walker and company closed out the contest to bring a UYFL championship back to Jacksonville.
Head Coach Ivory Durham who is also the founder of Mentors of Tomorrow (M.O.T) had a very busy week during the playoffs. His junior pee wee team defeated the North Carolina Terrapins 31-0 on Monday. They then dismantled the Oxford Circle Raiders 31-0 on Wednesday. On Thursday, Durham traveled to Orlando from Tampa to see his son, Ivory Durham IV who competed in the class 4A state championship game. 
Durham IV led Raines High School to it’s second state championship in school history. Finally on Friday, Durham coached his junior pee wee team to the championship over Homewood to cap an incredible week for he and M.O.T. Mentors of Tomorrow also had a 6U football team place 3rd and an 8U youth football team place 3rd in country at the UYFL championships. On the state championship team, M.O.T was represented by most of the Vikings starters. Names like Ivory Durhm IV, George Webb, Elijah Spivey, Almond Nelson, Aric Horne ,Larry Grier, Raynell Killian, Jaron Shanks, Diop Kee, Deante Bush, and Jarius Stewart to name a few. Each one of these players had a critical role in the Viking’s championship season. None more than state championship player of the game Ivory Durham IV. Durham IV grew up playing at M.O.T coached by his father, so Ivory Durham III has seen his son go through ups and downs. In the end, it was Durham III’s faith that has driven his park and his family. Said of his son’s state championship, “We are a praying family and God told me he was a special kid. So this has already been written. We(our family) already knew this was going to happen. We knew he was going to have to do something amazing to win the (championship) game. I wasn’t excited hen he won, I was just thankful. I wanted to cry, but why are you going to cry over something that you already knew would happen. I’m just thankful”. M.O.T has a lot to be thankful for during the holiday season. Another youth football championship and one of it’s own sons winning a state championship in the same week. On a spiritual level and a sports level, seven is truly the number of completion.
Congratulations to the 6u and 8u Cowboys UYFL National 3rd place
Check out the video courtesy of M.O.T Video.
