Mt. Helix Runnin' Rebels Advances to Regionals After Winning San Diego Pop Warner Title

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story stated that the regional game was to be at 5 p.m. It is actually at 7 p.m. at Lincoln High School.

There's a football powerhouse in the Mt. Helix area, but it's not at one of the local high schools.

The Mt. Helix Runnin' Rebels Midgets Pop Warner team has advanced to the Regional Championships after finishing off an undefeated regular season, and taking home the 2011 San Diego Pop Warner Midget Championship last Saturday.

Led by head coach Bobby Austin, a Fletcher Hills resident, the Rebs ran circles around their competition, averaging a margin of victory of 32 points in their seven games.

"They've kinda destroyed everyone," said Kristi Floquet Rainey, who at the risk of seeming immodest stated the obvious.

Rainey, who said she's the "team mom," has a son on the 31-member team, Jordan Rodrigues. She said that the majority of the boys are from the La Mesa area.

Some of the key contributors to this year's team are quarterback Michael Austin, coach Bobby's son, running back Nathan Stinson, and fullback Derek Clark.

"They're the trio of guys who really gets this team going," said Austin, who all told has about 11 years of coaching Pop Warner in Grossmont, La Mesa, Spring Valley and South County. "Michael Austin is a threat to run and throw, and he calls his own plays, which is very unique for a 13-year-old. Nathan Stinson is probably the leading rusher in our division, and he wouldn't be able to do that without the blocking of Derek Clark."

The Rebels will play the Tustin (CA) Cobras Saturday, at 7 p.m. at Lincoln High School. Austin said that the team needs just five more wins to advance to the National Pop Warner Championships at Walt Disney World in December.

"I think our team has everything you need that it takes to go far," said Austin. "Their mental makeup is what is special. They have a tremendous group synergy, and they're great at coming together. They get through adversity – they're just a true team."

Austin said that watching and coaching these kids takes him back to when he played football as a teen.

"It's like coaching street corner kids in front of the house who are just playing ball," he said. "They're just out there having a great time."