By Mason Byers
Staff Writer
Since 2008, the PHX Allstars 14U football team has been about forming bonds with coaches, players, and other competitors while developing and being the best player you can be.
The PHX Allstars 14U team won the American Youth Football national championship earlier in December. It is a team made up of 8th graders from all over the valley in Arizona who travel across the country and take on some other elite talent from other states. They represent Arizona youth sports on a national level with a high level of competition and excellence.
It all started for the PHX Allstars back when they held a combine in collaboration with Arizona State University. To prepare their players during their tryouts, they tested the athletes in all the measurables you may see at the NFL combine. They had around 100 athletes try out for their team and ended up with their best 35 to make their final roster.
The head coach of the team, Nick Offenberger, recognizes how invaluable their relationship with ASU is for his 14U program.
“It’s just a relationship that allows for professional development with the coaches within our organization,” Offenberger said. “Then a platform for our student-athletes to display their skillsets and a give them a goal to work towards.”
Winning at the 14U level isn’t the only goal coaches like Offenberger have in mind for his student-athletes. Since the team is made up of 8th graders, it is very likely this will be their last football team until the high school level. Offenberger is making sure their athletes are prepared for the next four years of high school football.
“We try to give them a good understanding of what it takes to be successful at the high school level,” Offenberger said. “We’re blessed to coach some of the best kids across the state who have an opportunity to contribute at high schools, sooner rather than later.”
The high level of athletes and competitors the PHX Allstars have is a reason why they went out and won the AYF National Championship in 2024.
The team flew out to Florida where it was an eight-day grind for them. They watched films and practiced every day, then had three games in six days to try and claim the AYF 14U throne. However, despite being in a different state and having so many games in a short span, the PHX Allstars made it to the championship game.
They faced the Michigan Allstars in the national championship game. After winning the game 30-0, the PHX Allstars were crowned the AYF 14U champions after a dominant week in Florida they had, and Offenberger couldn’t have been prouder with how his whole team played.
“Shoutout our defense, they gave up six points in three games, which is mind-blowing,” Offenberger said. “I just felt like we were super prepared, our kids were super locked in, then we got after them on offense and once we got the lead we were not going to give it back.”
The PHX Allstars organization has now been around for 16 years, and while they have been competing at a high level and earning trophies, they have also developed players to help further their football careers and have created lifelong relationships.
Competing and training at a high level is what this team did every time they hit the gridiron. They bonded, grew and showcased their talents together throughout the whole process. Offenberger truly believes that this year's 14U team was the best one that they have ever compiled together to bring to the national championship stage.
“These kids loved each other, they bought into what we were doing, we competed and they did everything that we asked of them,” Offenberger said. “They were the best team we have ever brought down there, and it showed with how we performed on the field.”
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