Maine South Hawks football players made their entrance through a line of cheerleaders and Hawkettes to the cheers of fellow students at a Friday afternoon assembly in the school's gym.

Principal Shawn Messmer, who took the helm at the beginning of the school year, congratulated the team on its state championship. 

"They've wowed us for the third year straight with the state title. For that we should be extremely proud," Messmer said. "And they couldn't be here without your support at some level." 

David Inserra, the Hawks' head coach, thanked a long list of people, including the players, his fellow coaches, the cheerleaders, Hawkettes, parents, the school and fans. 

He also recognized the 38 seniors on the team, who have played their last season for the school, and the team's 23 scholar-athletes.

Congratulating Messmer, he said, "Mr. Messmer, not a bad way to start your first semester at Maine South--the birth of a daughter, and then a few days later, a football championship." 

Inserra tossed five footballs to members of the team for their performance at weekly practice, which Sean Sullivan, one of the team captains, said he does every Monday.  

They went to Andrew Terenzio, Victor Nelson, Paul Preston, Will Krug and Sullivan. 

Inserra said that this year's team was overmatched size-wise by players on other teams, but they made up for it with spirit.  He compared the team to the children's story, "The Little Engine That Could."

The team compensated by playing bigger, faster and smarter, he observed.

"We had a constant belief in ourselves," he said, "like that little train."