The cold wind bit at spectators’ ears as the sun set and the lights flickered on at Homesteader Park for the championship football game between the Eagles and the Raiders on Thursday night.

Players in the fifth and sixth grades at area schools suited up and were excited to hit the field while family and friends gathered along the sidelines, some huddled in blankets and carrying signs to help encourage the teams. The game was scheduled later than most, giving students from Southside Elementary School a chance to rest after their overnight field trip to Yellowstone National Park.

The Eagles came into the game as the favorites, sporting a 6-1 record. But the scrappy Raiders, with a 4-3 record, weren’t intimidated. The two teams had met twice already heading into the final game.

There are four teams in the league. They play each other twice in the regular season and then move on to the two-game playoff system. Travis Jones, head coach for the Raiders, said he would like to see more teams in the future. There is hope; the Rec Tackle league has been growing recently.

“Last year there were 10 or 11 kids on a team. This year there are 15 [per team],” Jones said. “So it’s definitely going into the right direction.”

Only one girl played in the league this year but all are encouraged to sign up, Jones said.

He said the players learn to think on their feet and how to build a team, as well as getting some exercise. But, he said the benefits go beyond the physical and educational values.

“This is good for the soul,” Jones said. “Especially being able to play football in cold weather like this.”

Ben McDonald, head coach of the Eagles, said playing in the league is also important experience for those hoping to play at higher levels.

“[The league] is important for Powell to get their program built back up as these kids go into the high school program. This is the building blocks for our future teams,” he said.

The Eagles scored first, capitalizing on a turnover by the Raiders deep in their own territory on the first play of the game. But the Raiders stormed back, grinding the ball on the ground before completing a trick play, a double-reverse to running back Owen Jones who threw a deep pass to quarterback Luis Meza for the score.

The play is called the Philly Special, Jones said. It was used by the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII to score on the New England Patriots at the end of the first half.

Early in the game the team of referees gave each team warnings — teaching moments — prior to making calls for holding and offsides. By the second quarter flags started to fly.

The Eagles scored two more times before halftime, led by two rushing scores by quarterback Russell Goolsbey, giving them a comfortable lead going into the third quarter. The two nine-player teams battled for most of the third quarter on the 60-yard field, giving both teams’ punters a workout. The Eagles scored their final touchdown late in the third quarter, led by the running back duo of Isaiah Torres and Forest Kleinfeldt.

Defense dominated the play in the fourth quarter and the game ended with the Eagles coming out on top, 26-7 for the city championship. McDonald said he hopes to have a pizza party for the team to celebrate the season. But first, sixth-graders from all four teams will scrimmage the Panthers on Thursday night to celebrate moving to the next level. The scrimmage is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. at Panther Stadium.

McDonald said the league is more about getting players excited about the sport and having fun, than winning.

“Every team was super competitive. They really get after it,” he said. “But we make sure everyone gets in the game and is excited about participating.”