The Orion Oaks Lions, a third grade team from Lake Orion, won the state championship in the Michigan Flag Football Association State Tournament at Walled Lake Northern High School on Nov. 17 and 18.
The team played two games on Saturday and eight on Sunday. The boys lost to the Walled Lake 49ers in their fifth game, to fall into the losers bracket, but fought their way out and then beat the 49ers twice to win the title.
The games are five-on-five format, lasting 24 minutes. The Lions won both of their games against the 49ers by a 7-6 score.
Four of the boys attend Orion Oaks Elementary school: J.D. Allen, Kyle Livingway, Jack Marcus and Austin Wright. Other team members included Tony Malinowski and Mitchell Shults. The team was coached by Jeff Wright and Dave Livingway.
Along the way, they beat a travel team from Ohio, a team from Country Day and various other teams. Some teams had uniforms and sponsorships, but the Lions were just the little team of six that came from nowhere to win.