PENDLETON — They are just gridiron beginners, but they got the feel of big-time football for the championship game.

The Pendleton Junior Football League recently wrapped up the 2020 season for its youngsters in the flag football division by playing the title game on the new synthetic turf of John Broughton Field, home of the Pendleton Heights High School Arabians.

It was the climax of the league’s single-elimination tournament. Seven teams of first- and second-graders had played six regular-season games prior to the tournament.

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The Graham, Hopper, Farrer and Wilson, P.C. team beat Delaware Glass in the title game under the stadium lights.

Rosenthall Orthodonics, Church, Church, Hittle and Antrim, WolfeRich Insurance Group, Sisson Family Dentistry and Bronze Bay Tanning Center were the other sponsored groups in the seven-team league. There were 70 players competing, 10 on a team, in the flag football division.

The PJFL also has tackle teams for third/fourth graders and fifth/sixth graders. Including the flag football league, 188 players participated in leagues this season.

PJFL President Troy McKinley said the league mirrored the high school athletic programs in practicing social distancing, masks and other recommendations for a safe atmosphere during the pandemic.

“Players wore masks to and from practice fields and took them off when they had physical activity,” McKinley said. “They all brought their own water bottles. We used a lot of hand-sanitizer and were attentive in wiping down equipment.”

Those seasons are over and select teams are now preparing to compete in the Hoosier Heritage Conference tournament.

The PJFL will play host to the sixth-grade conference tournament Oct. 24, 25 and 31. The league will also have teams playing in third-, fourth- and fifth-grade tournaments at other schools in the conference. Third-graders will play at New Palestine, fourth-graders at Delta and fifth-graders at New Castle.

McKinley added that he was grateful to those that helped out with the league during such a challenging time.

“On behalf of the Pendleton Junior Football League Board, I would like to thank each and every player, coach, parent and fan who made this season a success,” he said. “During this unprecedented time, we all came together as a community and showed our patience and resiliency. We were 188 players strong this year from first to sixth grade and look forward to continuing to grow the PH football program.”

More information about the league is available at www.pjflfootball.org.