The journey began with their inaugural practice at Twin Lakes Park in the thick of Florida heat and humidity on Aug. 1.

The sweet ride did not end until the Sarasota Sun Devils Pop Warner Mighty Mite football team (ages 8-10) reached the championship game of the Mid-America Southeast Championship tournament in Orlando over the Thanksgiving Holiday.

SARASOTA COUNTY (SNN TV) — Don’t be thrown off by the size of the players, the Sarasota Sun Devils Mitey Mite team is on the verge of ginormous history.

Established in 1987, the Sarasota Sun Devils organization will play for its first ever “National Championship” on Wednesday in Orlando.

The three-day long Pop Warner National Championship is being hosted by Florida Citrus Sports at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, and includes nearly 200 teams from around the country. The event followed strict safety protocols, including mandatory mask-wearing except when performing, social distancing and limits on the number of participating teams.