Ezra Jenifer, an AE/MS sixth grader, and Brandon Wood, an AE/MS eighth grader, participated in the Football University (FBU) National Championship games in Massachusetts on December 1.

Ezra plays football as part of Blue Storm Sports, the football league for Andover and the Merrimack Valley school district. Ezra plays middle linebacker on defense and tight end on offense and was selected Most Valuable Player of his team this year.

Brandon plays linebacker at MVMS representing Andover. The team went undefeated through their 2012 season.

The FBU National Championship kicked off on December 1 at various locations across America, with the winners advancing in this single-elimination tournament that features 64 state-based teams.

The New Hampshire All-Star 8th-grade team played Massachusetts on Saturday and lost 35-0. They played on Sunday against Rhode Island and won 32-0.

Brandon caused opponents to fumble twice, and he had two fumble recoveries that the New Hampshire team capitalized on. According to his defensive coach, “he was a key player who caused havoc on Rhode Island’s offense.”

The first four rounds of the Championship take place at regional sites, and the semi-finals and championship will take place on Saturday, January 5, and Sunday, January 6, respectively, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas as part of the US Army All-American Bowl Week celebration.

This year’s tournament will be the biggest youth football tournament ever put together, featuring an expansion to 64 teams nationwide, including more than 250 games, 6,000 athletes, and 1,200 coaches. The tournament will showcase 250 games through a four-week period.

All American Games will produce a Sports Center-style studio show, providing detailed, round-by-round updates and news, hosted by long-time national TV/radio announcer Neil Sika.

For more information about Blue Storm football, visit BlueStormSports.com. For more about FBU, visit FootballUniversity.org.