(La Porte, IN) - A youth football team from La Porte is leaving a championship tournament in Florida a winner.

The "Slicers", in Pop Warner's Mighty Division, defeated Kankakee Valley 12-0 in Orlando on Wednesday to take third place in the tournament.  The team, consisting of children ages 7 to 9, was defeated 32-0 by the Outlaws from Jacksonville, Florida in the semi-finals on Sunday.

Jack Arnett, a local high ranking official with the Pop Warner Football organization, said it was tough first round draw for La Porte because of the superior talent exhibited by their opponents, who have won previous championships.

“The team was probably one of the best Pop Warner football teams I’ve seen in my 40-year career,” he said.

He said the Slicers and Kankakee Valley split two prior games during the regular season.