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West Texas youth football team recognized for winning national championship

The City of Midland recognized the West Texas Black Gold on Tuesday for winning the AYF national championship in December.

MIDLAND, Texas — A team of youth football all-stars from West Texas was recognized on Tuesday for winning the American Youth Football National Championship back in December.

The West Texas Black Gold features an all-star group of 11u football players from cities and towns all across the region, and they brought home a national championship back with them from Naples, FL.

The team's head coach is Robert Hernandez, and their defensive coordinator is Councilman John Norman, who serves as the chairman of the local league. The team was selected from a pool of standouts that played in the Fall, coming together to form the Black Gold and compete for a championship. 

Hernandez had won this championship before, coaching a team that featured current stars in the West Texas high school football scene, such as Odessa High Quarterback Mikey Cota and Midland Legacy Wide Receiver Aiden Serrano.

Hernandez said the players on this year's squad got an unforgettable experience that can help them in the future. The experience will help them in both football and in life. 

What they learned from this season will be invaluable to their football careers in West Texas, as well as their future as a whole.

Norman and the City of Midland declared January 9, 2024 to be a day to honor the achievements of these young athletes, who represented West Texas on one of the biggest stages in youth football and one of the biggest stages in all of youth sports. 

The 7u all-star team from the area, the West Texas Reign, also made it to the national tournament in Naples, FL. as well. 

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