Even the greatest athletes have he humblest of starts, most finding their love for the game at a young age through local youth leagues.

On Saturday, a collection of children too young for pads, lined up against each other in the Community Youth Football League Super Bowl at Northside High School and it was the Washington Patriots who found themselves hoisting the championship trophy at the end.

Playing 22-minute halves with a running clock, the Washington Patriots defeated the Washington Jets, 14-0.

And the scoring started early. On the first play from scrimmage, wingback Korbin Arnold eluded two defenders and reversed up field, breaking free for a 36-yard touchdown run.

After the defense forced a quiet three-and-out, Patriots’ backs Calek Smaw, Josiah Jennette and Anderson Thomas picked up yards in bunches. Eventually, Thomas found an opening and ran for a 17-yard touchdown.

Then, the Patriots defense took the field for what was the longest drive of the afternoon. Short runs pushed the Jets forward, and then penalties moved them back. The trend continued, until the Jets managed to find the red zone, but as Northside running back Rockne Butler said on the same field just hours before the game, it just wasn’t their time. A penalty negated a touchdown and a goal line stand gave the Patriots the ball back at the two-yard line.

After two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against the Jets’ coach after the drive, the game was forfeited and the Patriots walked away with the trophy in a shortened contest.