Above: U-15 Stars linebacker Westyn Pemberton scoops up a first-half fumble and returns it for a touchdown in Game 3. (Mike Fender photo for USA Football)
The first Middle School Bowl Games Series is complete, with a tripleheader of games played at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Related content: Recap of the Middle School Bowl Game Series from Canton
Photographer Mike Fender covered the games for USA Football, and he chose these 21 photos as his favorites from the day:
U-14 Pride lineman Jaxson Campese from Howell, New Jersey, carries the American flag into the stadium as his team is introduced.
Players from U-14 Courage cast long shadows as they stretch in the morning sun before their game.
Players from U-14 Courage get pumped up from one of their coaches before their game.
U-14 Stars and Stripes teams face off on the midfield logo for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Game 2.
Halftime words of wisdom get players from U-14 Courage ready to storm the field in the second half of their game.
U-14 Stripes quarterback Luke Knight from Wesley Chapel, Florida, tries to get a handle on a high snap during Game 2.
U-14 Courage receiver Aiden Chavis from Avon, Indiana, stretches to score the first TD of the game against the U-14 Pride.
A young fan shows support for her brother in Game 2.
U-15 Stars linebacker Westyn Pemberton from Martinsville, Indiana, scoops up a first-half fumble and returns it for a touchdown in Game 3.
U-14 Stripes DB Donovan Lewis from Westminster, Maryland, goes airborne to break up a pass intended for Stars receiver Miles Massengill from Lawrenceville, Georgia, in Game 2.
U-14 Stripes receiver Oluwakoleade Osinubi from Avon, Massachusetts, pulls in a long pass in the second quarter en route to a TD in Game 2.
U-14 Stripes receiver Oluwakoleade Osinubi, right, celebrates his second-quarter TD catch with teammate Luke Knight after a long pass in the second quarter in Game 2.
Players and coaches for U-14 Courage celebrate their win over U-14 Pride in the first game.
U-14 Stars running back Shoka Griffin II from Muncie, Indiana, runs in for a touchdown in the third quarter of Game 2.
U-15 Stars DB Julian Diedrich from Plymouth, Minnesota, pulls in a one-handed interception in Game 3.
U-15 Stars DB Julian Diedrich celebrates after pulling in a one-handed interception in Game 3.
U-15 Stars DB Jalil Singleton from Waldorf, Maryland, pulls in a second-half interception that stopped a Stripes drive in Game 3.
Players from U-14 Stripes celebrate a big win over U-14 Stars in Game 2.
U-15 Stripes receiver Sebastian Lopez from Orlando, Florida, sprints into the end zone with a TD after a reception.
The wind was a friend to the flag but not to U-14 Stripes DL Cody Garner from Dallas, Georgia, and his long hair before Game 2.