Seventh annual Paper Football Championship

On Thurs., Feb. 10, you might have been preparing for the 56th Super Bowl, but something greater had happened at Sundance Elementary. It was the 7th annual Paper Football Championship of the World, and the stakes were high.

We've interviewed our coaches/referees, Mr. Olson and Mr. Dobesh, pre-game:

Q: Who do you think is going to win? 

Olson: My guess would be someone in here (you can stay in during recess to practice). Someone who works hard, bet on those odds. 

Dobesh: A girl is going to win. (He knows who he thinks is going to win, but isn't going to say it.) 

Q: What if a boy wins?

Dobesh: A boy is not going to win. 

Q: How many more years do you plan on doing this? 

Olson: Well you know, with media coverage, the PFCW (Paper Football Championship of the World) will go on for centuries. 

Dobesh: As long as I'm breathing!

Q: If you had to bet on someone, how much money would you bet? 

Olson: I would bet $2000 on Tess (Daily). 

Dobesh: 10 American dollars, or all the green properties in Monopoly.

Q: If there was a teacher version, who would win?

Olson: Mr. Dobesh beat me seven years in a row. But actually, I think team Tina Inghram would win because that's all she ever does. 

Dobesh: Me. I'm currently on a seven or eight year streak beating Mr. Olson. Like stealing candy from a baby.

The rules are simple. First, one of our 'finest crafted' paper footballs is placed on the game field, and to start the game, players must join in on a game of 'Rock, Papers, Scissors'. The winner gets to choose which side of the field they get, or if they get the ball.

If you slide it into the end-zone, you will receive six points and you get to try for an extra point by kicking the ball. If you slide it into the field goal zone, you get three points.

All of the previous winners have come back to help referee the games. Last year, MacKenna Olson won, so this year she was reffing alongside her dad, Mr. Olson, for the first time ever.

In the semifinals, it was Zander Stover vs. Cord Marchant. Zander won, but the final score was 127-112, which was the same exact score in the finals last year.

After a break, we came back for the finals, Zander Stover vs. Luke Halverson. Before the game started, Deklan Gill, a referee from the high school, gave a very, very emotional performance of 'The Star Spangled Banner'.

Zander won the 'Rock, Paper, Scissors', and then kicked off the game. Unfortunately, the head referees (Mr. Olson and Mr. Dobesh) had forgotten to use the "Golden Paper Football." This was a paper football made of gold paper and used every time for the finals.

It was a close game at first, but by the time the last whistle blew, Zander was the only one left standing. Immediately after the score was called, the "World Champions" huddled around him to celebrate.

Together, they all took a celebratory picture. Zander, a very humble player, credited his skills to Luke. When he was asked "What type of stuff got you into this?" he replied with "I don't know."

What started as a 32 athlete single elimination tournament, had left Zander for the win. His name will permanently be engraved on the Paper Football Hall of Fame Plaque, along with all the other champions.

The 'Paper Football Championship of the World' will just have to wait until next year to crown the next 'Paper Football Champion of the World'.