PORTAGE PARK — The first loss of the season for the Portage Park Shamrocks featherweight football team came at an especially bad time: the championship game.
After recording 10 straight victories, the team of boys age 7 to 11 lost the title game Sunday to a youth football team from North Chicago, said Ann Doukas, the grandmother of one of the players.
The team, based at Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave., is part of the oldest football league on the Northwest Side.
"Most of the boys did not know each other before the season started but they have all become great friends," Doukas said. "The coaches taught them life lessons besides football."
The team was coached by Flipper Lopez, assisted by Andre Hawthorn, Rich Liu, Mike Reilly and Fred Soto.
The team members were: Mason Moscatello, Damien Reilly, Demari Rodgers, Logan Lopez, Justin Hackleman, Henry Mizhquiri, Quintin Soto, James Osorio, Justin Saldana, Benjamin Williams, Thomas Williams, James Brenka, Zackary Roque, Raymond Aurioles, Maximus Abrill, Joshua Tores Dunn, Kenneth Elrod, Samuel Rojo, Alexis Rodriguez Jr. and Brian Avalos.
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