Three Ravens found success on the football field in December, with exciting opportunities to compete in championship games: fifth-grade classmates Parker Tesh ’31 and Matthew Murray ’31 played in the Football University National Championship’s 10U tournament, coming in fifth, and sixth-grader Jayden Del Rosario ’30 and his teammates won the American Youth Football League’s national championship for 11U.

Parker and Matthew: 10U Regional All-Stars

Parker and Matthew, who are good friends on and off the field, were starters with the regional all-star team that traveled to Naples, Florida, on Dec. 15-19 for the national tournament. According to the organizers, “The FBUNC is a one-of-a-kind national tournament celebrating and promoting youth football. It unites all-star athletes of all backgrounds from across the United States in a true national tournament,” with 24 teams from 20 states competing in the 10-and-under division.  

Matthew said of the experience, “FBU was fun and exciting! Parker Tesh and I had the opportunity to represent the Ravenscroft community on the North Carolina team. There were teams from all over the country. The football games were awesome, and we did really well. On one play, we worked together on a forced fumble and recovery, which was very exciting!”

“It was really cool to get invited to play on an All-Star team,” Parker added. “Getting to play against some of the best kids in the nation was awesome and eye-opening. The tournament was nerve-wracking because we really wanted to win. We also had to play our first game in the rain.”

Both boys plan to play together next fall on the North Raleigh Bulldogs Pop Warner football team coached by Parker’s father, Adam Tesh.

“We’re going to work hard and try to go to Florida to win a national championship,” Parker said.

Jayden: 11U AYFL Champ

Jayden’s team, the 11U Knightmare Boyz, played in the American Youth Football League’s national championship during the week of Dec. 3, defeating three opponents to win the finals on Dec. 7. He and his team defeated the Southwest Stampede out of Arizona with a score of 12-8. 

“My favorite memory of winning the national championship was watching the clock hit zero,” he said. “We worked hard all year and played many games, so when the final clock hit zero I was happy we had the lead and were the champs.”

Jayden, a quarterback, has been playing tackle football since the age of 5. He began playing with the Capital City Steelers Pop Warner team and, after an 8U season during the COVID pandemic, began competing in the AYF division with his current team. 

“What I love most about playing for this team is playing against the best competition on a national level. It allows me to see where I am against the best in the U.S.,” Parker said. “I also love playing quarterback for this team and the pressure that comes with it.”

Next year he hopes to begin playing for Ravenscroft. 

Congratulations to all three of these athletes!