(Orlando, FL) - A Pop Warner football team from La Porte suffered a heartbreaking loss in the national semi-finals this morning.

 

The 9U team led by two touchdowns early in the fourth quarter, but their opponent from Florida, Coconut Grove, came alive.

 

Head Coach Mike Nelson said the opposition used the speed of their players more to their advantage during a three-touchdown scoring spree while stopping his offense during the rest of the final quarter.

 

La Porte lost 30 to 21.

 

“They spread field out on us and started passing. They just hit some real nice passes in open space and the comeback was completed,” he said.

 

Nelson said his players were emotional, as expected after the game, but he told them finishing third in the nation is something they should be very proud of.

 

“I said, 'Okay, boys. You have ten minutes to be upset and then, after that, get over it.  You guys had a heck of a run, just a heck of a run.'  I’m super proud of them,” he said.

 

Before the national tournament, a then-undefeated La Porte scored more than 400 points while giving up just six during the season.