A Dorchester Pop Warner team is moving on to the national semifinal game after winning in the quarterfinals of the 61st Pop Warner Super Bowl on Sunday in Orlando. The Dorchester Eagles defeated Chicago’s Hoffman Estates Redhawks by the score of 20-14 at Disney’s ESPN sports complex. The Eagles will play North Raleigh of North Carolina in the Junior Varsity semifinals on Wednesday.

Dorchester’s defense was dominant throughout much of the game, holding Hoffman Estates to only seven points before a late touchdown brought the Redhawks to within six. The first half was highlighted by a 61 yard fumble return by Dorchester’s Zion Simmons, which gave the Eagles an early 8-0 lead. Simmons starred on both sides of the ball and was responsible for all three of the team’s scores, contributing two long rushing touchdowns in
addition to the fumble return.

Dorchester advanced to the Pop Warner Super Bowl after winning both their league and the New England Regional Championships. Having reached the semifinals, the Eagles are among the four top teams in their division out of a field of sixty-four teams from around the country. The victory means the Dorchester kids are just two wins away from a National Championship title.