Hoosier Elite 14U Football Wins National Football Tournament

The team is made up of 8th graders from all three Dearborn County schools.

Photo provided.

(Dearborn County, Ind.) - A group of 8th grade football stars from southeastern Indiana went to the Smoky Mountains with one thing in mind, domination. 

Hoosier Elite 14U recently won the Battle in Rocky Top National Tournament. 

The team featured 8th graders from Lawrenceburg, South Dearborn, and Sunman-Dearborn schools. The team was formed in September with the idea of competing in football tournaments across the region after the middle school season was completed. 

Despite little time to come together on the field, Hoosier Elite 14U placed 3rd at the Crossroads Championship in Indianapolis in their first tournament as a team earlier this month. They backed that up by earning runner-up at the Rivertown Rumble, where they were defeated by the 6A Brownsburg Bulldogs in the championship game. 

But it all came together in Knoxville, Tennessee. Hoosier Elite 14U began the 13-tournament team by defeating WV Reapers 12-6. In the second round, they defeated top-seeded Tennessee Ducks 6-0. In the semi’s, Hoosier Elite handily defeated the Central Bobcats of Knoxville 28-0. They continued to roll in the finals, knocking off WV Venom 22-0. For the tournament, they outscored opponents 68-6.

Hoosier Elite 14U roster includes: Ace Beccacio (OG/DE), Andy Deters (WR/CB), Brogan Wynn (RB/CB), Cale McCool (OG/DE), Campbell Williams (QB,WR/CB), Chase Ballentine (OG/DT), Chase McCracken (RB/OLB), Dallas Terrill (TE/DT/LB), Daxton Tigue (TE/DT), DJ Miller (OT/DT,DE), Dominick Keller (OG, NG), Evan Herzner (RB/S,LB), Gavin Slusher (S,LB), Jax Beare (RB/MLB), Landon McKeown (C/OLB), Mason Schneider (OT/DE), Max Nelson, (OT/DT,DE), Michael Burke (WR/MLB), Nathan Whitmire (NG,DT), Parker Nowlin (C/DT), Parker Wegman (RB,WR/S,CB), Solomon Wheat (QB/S), Tristan Campbell (OT/DT), Troy Sebastian (RB/OLB), Will Graf (FB/OLB)

The Hoosier Elite were founded, coached, and organized by Chad Williams (HC/DC), Jason Beccacio (OC), Jonathan Deters (ST), Tami McCracken (Admin) and Matt Nelson (RBs/DBs). The team would like to thank their sponsors: Hoosier Elite – Explosive Strength Training, Proof’s Hoosier Icehouse, Great Clips, L.A. Sweets, Proof 124 Table & Tavern, 1 More Bar &Grille, Applebee’s, H.I.V.E Salon & Boutique, Dunkin’ of Lawrenceburg & Greendale, Firehouse Subs, The Captain’s Tavern, Main Street Market, The Friendly Bean Café, Eight Top Grill, St. Joseph American Legion Post 464 of St. Leon, Jump Zone, Card My Yard and the community members who helped support them through fundraising.