OXON HILL, Md. — A Prince George's County youth football team has been undefeated all season, but now they need the community's help to get to Nationals.
The DMV Knights Dawave Boyz, a team of nine-year-olds, has one more game to win Saturday in New Jersey to qualify for the National Championship in Florida.
"It would mean the world to us," player Markell Artis said.
This football family has practiced for hours each week -- braving see-your-breath weather.
“If we win this we go to Florida, and my mom ain’t pay for no reason," player Tyrell Cauthern said.
“It’s a good thing to watch where they started from to where they are now--a lot of work, lot of work," their head coach Marcus Artis said.
Now, though, they need some help being able to afford this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“It's a lot of strenuous days for these parents, who are working hard, due to the COVID… and it's costly. It costs a lot," Artis said.
He set up a gofundme to raise $20,000 to help all 27 players get to Florida and enjoy family time on and off the field.
It's a lot of work -- but also a lot of reward.
Artis said the team has become a family -- it's bigger than just a win.
“Every day waking up with your brothers, going to sleep with your brothers, playing football. It's a brotherhood that most of these kids will live with forever," he said.
That brotherhood lost someone in August -- eight-year-old PJ Evans.
He was shot to death while playing video games in his cousin's apartment, after a football practice.
Evans didn't play for this particular team, but many of the players knew him well.
"I used to play with him all the time...so we're doing this for him," Markell said.
Losing a friend or family member to gun violence unfortunately isn't new for these kids, Artis said.
“It’s a lot these kids are dealing with. A lot of these kids come out every day, they might lose a teammate, they might lose a friend, they might lose a classmate," he said.
And it's this brotherhood that keeps them going.
These kids are also playing for their futures.
“It means a lot, because I want to buy my mom her dream house and dream car," Tyrell said.
It's just one of the many motivations they have to go all the way -- for themselves and for PJ.