Submitted photos – The Eureka players and coaches celebrate their recent championship.

Sometimes it’s not how you start but rather how you finish.

Last week, the Eureka Junior League Football Single-A team wrapped up a memorable season with by winning the Six Rivers Youth Conference championship at Fortuna High School, defeating Del Norte Blue 13-12 in the championship game.

But they had to overcome a slow start to league play on their way to the championship.

The young Eureka players lost two of their opening four games on the season before rattling off six straight wins and closing out the year 8-2.

“I had an amazing group of kids,” head coach Dre Luckett said. “They were very hard working and dedicated, and they were willing to learn, willing to be better and learn from their mistakes.”

The Eureka players clearly did that.

They also had to overcome some difficult elements in the championship showdown, competing in wet and muddy condition at Husky Field.

But that didn’t dampen the young players’ enthusiasm.

“It was amazing,” Luckett added. “We had our ups and downs with the weather conditions, but other than that we played an amazing game.

“We cleaned it in the second half.”

Antonio Aguirre and Brian Devlin each scored a touchdown in the championship game and that was just enough to edge a competitive Del Norte team by a single point.

Eureka, which was seeded No. 3 for the playoffs, also defeated Del Norte Gold 19-6 in the opening postseason game and Ferndale 32-0 in the semifinals.

“They went out there and got what they deserved, I felt,” the coach added.

There were a lot of things to admire about this year’s roster, which came together over the last few months.

“(What impressed me was) their willingness not to quit and give up, and mainly believe in themselves and trust in the process,” Luckett said. “Some of them didn’t start out as starters but they put in the hard work.”

This was a group of young players that also enjoyed playing together.

“Their energy was always fun, they were goofy but they worked hard,” the coach said. “I made sure I let them have fun and be themselves.

“They went to practice and had fun doing it.”

Aguirre and Devlin were team MVPs, while Braxton Burlison and Orion LaRue were the teams most improved players.

Dominic Robinette was also a team leader, while Edward Rich was the hardest worker on the team, according to the coaches.

A talented and hard-working roster also included Ayden Anchane-Snowton, Axel Atkins, Alaysia Bailey, Milo Camesi-Mata, Peyton Gildesguard, Braxton Trip, Luke Maggio, Tyler Rexford, Jeremy Sanders and Levi Pearlston.

Assistant coaches Jeremy Sanders, Michael Tripp and Mick Torres each also played a key role in the team’s success.