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Chicago Pop Warner Football Team On The Way To National Championship

(CBS) – A Chicago football team is headed to Florida for the national Pop Warner championships.

CBS 2's Brad Edwards reports it's not just about a game for the Chicago Chargers. It's about overcoming tremendous odds.

Their national championship dreams begin in a couple full size vans at Columbus Park.

"We're just a family. It brings us safety," Sirshaun Gardner says.

Their fears of the street are not unfounded. One of their players, running back Donald Johnson, was shot and wounded on his way to school a few weeks ago.

"We were in practice we all just stopped and we just broke down,"player Seth Holt says. "It was a shocking moment."

These Chargers – made up of 13- to 16-year-olds – have gone on to win state and then the region, toppling a Cleveland team. Now they're on to nationals.

They have to win three games to bring it all home. Their first game is on Sunday.

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