Heading into the last week of the season, the SAINTS and DOLPHINS were tied atop the 7-to-9 year-old standings. Both teams faltered down the stretch though, falling to the three and five seeds, respectively.

On Sunday, the DOLPHINS fought their way from the first round to the finals behind a spectacular defensive performance. The unit shut out each of the three teams it faced on route to the championship game.

The SAINTS, on the other hand, received a bye and relied on a high-powered offense to make their way to the finals. The team averaged 16 points a game, holding its two opponents to a combined 12.

When the teams played last week, it was a low-scoring contest, as the SAINTS won 13-0. This game was more of the same, with both defenses playing extremely well.

The DOLPHINS got the ball to start the game, but couldn’t convert a third-down opportunity. Taking over deep in their own territory, the SAINTS threw an interception, presenting the DOLPHINS with an excellent scoring chance.

But they couldn’t convert as the SAINTS’ defense held firm. Heading into the break, the score was still tied at zero.

After a SAINTS turnover to start the half, the DOLPHINS drove the length of the field, scoring the game’s first points on a short touchdown pass. The quarterback had to fit the ball into a tight window, as a SAINTS defender was closing fast. He did so, giving his team a 6-0 lead.

With little time left, all the DOLPHINS had to do was get one more stop. The SAINTS advanced the ball to the middle of the field and had a chance to steal the game when a receiver slipped behind the secondary. The quarterback lobbed a pass to the player, but he couldn’t control it and the team went on to turn it over on downs.

On offense, the DOLPHINS were able to run out the clock, winning the championship by a score of 6-0. The team’s playoff run was unprecedented, as they scored only 19 points over four games to take home the title. In this case, the saying, “Defense wins Championships” definitely held true.