PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Patriots Unlimited Football Team, a member of the POP Warner Youth Football organization, has advanced to the New England Regional championship football game to be held at Foley Field in Worcester, Mass. on Saturday, Nov. 24,at 4 p.m..Ending the regular season with a record of 7 wins and 1 loss, the Portsmouth Patriots won the RISMA title after defeating the Dartmouth Indians 28 to 0. Facing the New Hampshire Seacoast Titans in the first round of the playoffs, the Patriots won 33 to 0 advancing to the New England Regional semi-final game against Massachusetts-based West Boylston on Saturday, November 17th in Manchester, NH. Defeating West Boylston 37 to 6, the Patriots will now face the Everett Crimson Tide in the New England Regional Final on Saturday, Nov. 24. Entering the championship game, the Patriots have let up just two touchdowns and have scored over 330 points on offense for the 2012 season.

The Portsmouth Unlimited team is comprised of 22 players; many of whom have been playing Pop Warner youth football since they were seven. The coaching staff is led by Andre Khalfayan and six dedicated coaches including defensive coordinator, Max Khalfayan, a senior captain on the PHS football team who won a Pop Warner state championship in 2005 under Coach Khalfayan’s leadership.

Since 1972, the Portsmouth Unlimited team is the first to represent the Portsmouth Youth Football organization in the New England Regional championship game. “From the day our players took the field in August, our goal was to come together as a team.” said Coach Khalfayan. “All season I have told the boys if they work hard good things will happen. They are a great team, a great group of boys.”

The Portsmouth Youth Football and Cheer teams had a successful 2012 season with three other teams, in addition to the Unlimited football team, moving on to regional playoffs and qualifiers. The Portsmouth PeeWee football team won the RISMA championship after defeating the East Bay Warriors. Additionally, the Jr. Midget Cheer team finished 2nd in the PW2 small division at New England Regional Qualifiers and then went on to place 3rd in the New England Regional Cheerleading Competition. The PeeWee Cheer team finished third in the PW2 medium division at New England Regional Qualifiers.

Formed in 1972, Portsmouth Youth Football is a member of the Rhode Island and Southeast Massachusetts Pop Warner Football and Spirit Conference (RISMA), New England Pop Warner Region and the National Pop Warner Youth Football Organization. Run by volunteers, Portsmouth Youth Football fields six football teams and five cheerleading squads.