The Dorchester Elite Eagles U14 Pop Warner football team and the Boston Lady Raiders Bantam cheer team celebrated in awesome fashion Saturday afternoon as they rode up front in the neighborhood’s first-ever national title parade along Talbot Avenue, and later participated in an energizing ceremony at the Blue Hill Boys & Girls Club.

The Eagles won the Division 1 Super Bowl on Dec. 7 in Orlando, Florida by beating the Darby (PA) Monarchs, 20-0. The Lady Raiders won their cheer division earlier that week in Orlando. Both teams had been close to the top several times in previous years and had fallen short.

But not this time.

“The champs are here!” announced the emcee at the head of the parade as a flurry of Eagles’ flags and Raiders’ flags set the background. It was a joyous time on Talbot Avenue, and more than a few people noted that it was refreshing to celebrate peacefully the accomplishments of young athletes and cheerleaders on a street that has been the center of several tragedies this year.

Gelisa Brown, vice president of the Eagles, hoisted the trophy as the players rode by. Seth Daniel photos

Coach Terry Cousins celebrated on the trolley with the Eagles championship belt.

But none of that was in the least bit present as Mayor Wu and several other elected officials and city leaders joined in the celebrating after scurrying to put together a special celebration with a tourist trolley and flatbed truck with Boston Police escort.

“Thank you for putting Boston on the map,” said Wu during the celebration inside the Club. “In the 37-year history of Pop Warner football, never once did we have a champion back home in Boston until now…When we win a championship, we have a parade in Boston.”

In his invocation, Bishop William Dickerson noted the importance of the occasion: “This doesn’t happen every day or even on a regular basis,” he said. “This is historic for our community.”

Eagles Head Coach Tony Hurston.

Renee Murray, cheer director for the Lady Raiders, said they have been to the nationals almost every year, but this time they pulled it out. “It was the best day of your life and of mine too,” she said.

Eagles Coaches Tony Hurston and Terry Cousins said the football players had been around for many years and had played together year in and year out. Several times they made it to the Final Eight in Orlando, but always fell short. This time, they finished strong.

“A lot of these kids gutted it out and stuck it out five, six, or seven years. They came back for a final rally, and it paid off,” said Hurston.

Added Cousins, “We said at the beginning of the season that the only team that could beat us was us. They bought into it fully and they wanted a national championship…If you want to be a national champion in football, come play for the Dorchester Eagles. We’re gonna run it back.”

Dameain Mims, president of the Metro Pop Warner League, which includes the Eagles and the Raiders, said, “This is really, really good for our first year.”

Check out the extended photo gallery from the parade here.