The Darien Swarm 13U Pop Warner youth football team was heavily motivated coming into the 2025 season after falling short a year ago of a trip to the national Super Bowl with a loss to an Ohio team in the regional competition.

After a 6-1 regular season this year, Darien, which has players from throughout the west suburbs, won its three games in the Chicagoland Pop Warner playoffs. That advanced the Swarm to regionals in Indiana and two more wins, including a victory over the Ohio team that had ended their season a year ago.

That win was their ticket to the Super Bowl at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Matthews, North Carolina.

The Swarm won its first two games in the national tournament, before losing 32-8 Friday in the championship game to Saddleback Valley, of Lake Forest, California.

“This was definitely a special team,” said Swarm head coach Kenny Smith. “They had a great camaraderie and started working on their own during the summer. Our goal this year was to win a national championship.”

Running back Pharrell Bryan, of Oak Park, wasn’t surprised by the success of his team this year.

“I knew we were going to make it (to the Super Bowl),” he said. “We were missing some guys last year, but we had everything together this year.”

While a bit disappointed by not winning the national championship, Bryan said playing three games at the Super Bowl was a great experience.
“I really wanted to win it, but it was something I’ve never experienced before, and it was a lot of fun,” he said. “It was great seeing competition from all over.”

In the Dec. 6 quarterfinals of the Super Bowl, Darien defeated Odell Eagles of Concord, North Carolina, 16-8, before defeating the Downingtown Young Whippets of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, 40-36 in the semifinals on Dec. 9.

“We were a much more balanced team this year than last year,” Coach Smith said. “We were much more of a running team last year, but we were more balanced this year.”

Darien Swarm quarterback Jesus Ortiz Jr. throws a pass while getting protection from teammate Joseph Ajere during a game this season.The Darien Swarm 13U team advanced to the championship game of the Pop Warner Super Bowl on Friday in North Carolina. (Kenny Smith)

One key for having a more balanced offense this season was the addition of quarterback Jesus Ortiz Jr.

His story is interesting in that he spent the past two seasons playing for the Addison Cowboys and won the 2023 national championship in the 11U Division. Ortiz decided he wanted to play this season for Darien after playing against, and beating, the Swarm last season.

“I just liked what they were doing, the plan they had, and I love coach (Smith),” he said. “It was fairly easy to fit in, and they were very welcoming to me.”

Ortiz was disappointed to come up a game short of winning the national title with Darien this season, but still enjoyed returning to the Super Bowl.

“I love playing against the best competition, and this was a great group to be with,” he said.

Along with Pharrell Bryan and Jesus Ortiz, Swam team members were Joseph Ajere, Jayden Autrey, Ashton Cole, Daniel Cook, John Davis, Ryan DeNardo, Landon Echols, Kaleb Green, Shael Laasiri, Jayce LeSain, Francisco Martinez, Justin Miller, Cruz Perales, Carmine Pollack, NaShaun Robinson, Kyler Ruff, Kobe Smith, and Satas Valincius.

Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/15/darien-swarm-super-bowl-runner-up/