FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The parents of a group of 5 and 6-year-old football players in Fresno say the Valley Boyz football program has done more for their kids than they could ever put into words. The young players with the Valley Boyz Youth Football and Cheer program have brought back to Fresno multiple national championships at the division one level thanks to sweat, tears and hours of fundraising. Julie Hernandez says her son becoming a champion is something she is tremendously proud of, but football has given him something much more important than skills on the field. "My son started as a baby and he grew into a young man," Hernandez said. Hernandez says she and her family traveled to Florida to watch the boys become national champions. They were stunned by the boys' performances. "The unexpectedness was not realizing just how competitive 6-year-olds could be," Hernandez said. "It was just not something that I expected for peewee football." Head Coach Kenneth Jones says he started with the Valley Boyz three years ago, slowly molding the 5 to 6-year-old players into national champions as part of his drive to be a better father. "I had kids, you know, [and] just wanted to spend more time with them," Jones said. "I used that to be a part, to help the kids out." Jones says after showing that he was dedicated to encouraging his own kids to participate on the team, he was asked to take over the head coach position. Assistant Coach Kevin Jackson says he joined the team in 2024 and immediately felt the challenge of turning a troupe of first graders into first-grade champions. "I'm used to working with older kids," Jackson said. "They understand more - younger kids, cry a lot, feel like things are more challenging and feel like they can't do things." Jackson says some of the kids had a hard time getting motivated and focused, especially through discouraging experiences. But with patience and grit, Jones and Jackson agree the Valley Boyz pushed past their perceived limits, making their coaches and parents proud. "Once they see that, they can, it's that's probably the best thing," Jackson said. "That's the best experience." Jackson says the costs of travel were an additional hurdle for the team on their road to national championships. "Going, traveling, it's a lot of expenses," Jackson said. "I had to put in a lot of my money. A lot of parents had to put in there a lot of their money. That took a lot of time away from actually practicing." Jackson and Jones say they hope with the help of the Fresno community, they can bring back national championships in 2025 and keep the program going to make the Valley Boyz champions in life. "That would mean everything if the whole city got behind us," Jackson said. "It would mean even more if the valley got behind us." "This prepares them for life. This prepares them to be headstrong," Jackson said. "I feel like the job would be accomplished if that happens."