A group of Southeast Idaho boys will compete in a national youth football championship in Florida later this month, and they’re raffling off a rifle and other prizes to help fund the trip.

The team, which includes players from Pocatello, Blackfoot and Fort Hall, represents Idaho’s first entry in the youth football national championship. Athletes from across the state were selected for the team, which plays its first regional game this weekend in Ogden, Utah, before heading to Florida for the championship Dec. 18-22.

Chastity Snowden, whose 12-year-old son Titian plays on the team, said the fundraising raffle will be drawn at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12. Prizes include a rifle, a custom antique trolley light and gift certificates from local restaurants including Jimmy John’s, Señor Iguanas and Pizza Pie Cafe. The drawing will be livestreamed on Facebook at facebook.com/chasity.l.snowden, where tickets can be purchased.

“The boys themselves will be drawing the tickets,” Snowden said. “These are local friends trying to help support us.”

Snowden’s son plays both offensive and defensive positions. She looks forward to him having this opportunity because it may open doors for him and his teammates in the future.

“There are college recruiters that are looking into this,” Snowden said. “Now that they’re on the team, people have reached out to them. It’s a big deal.”

This will also bring more exposure to young football players in the future. In the past, Idaho athletes had to join other programs to get this kind of attention.

“Now these college programs can see that Idaho does have kids who can participate,” Snowden said.

Athletes from all over Idaho have been selected for this team, and they have to travel often so they can practice together. A few are from Boise, and a few are from Southeast Idaho.

“They’re in Blackfoot, Fort Hall and Pocatello,” Snowden said. “They’re the ones having to travel every weekend, and the cost to go to Florida is astronomical.”

Snowden said people are also welcome to contact her to make donations. Her phone number is 208-406-8858.

“These boys are 100 percent dedicated,” Snowden said. “(They are) grateful for this opportunity. It’s something they’re verbal about.”

The boys are training hard for the game. Snowden said her son trains three times a week with speed, agility and defensive line training.

“It’s brutal for a 12-year-old,” Snowden said. “He puts in the time and gets the work done.”