The Downtown Suffolk Titans are in the Pop Warner regional playoffs and two victories away from a trip to Orlando and the Pop Warner Super Bowl.

The Titan players know their work on the field since August has gotten them this far. They also know hard work aside from football is part of their successful season.

“We rely first on our grades. Everyone has to keep a 2.0 average or higher. We rely on each other,” said Titan running back/quarterback/wide receiver and strong safety Corey Parker. “The first thing our coaches make us do is keep our heads in our books.”

“Respect and discipline,” said Titan running back Rashaud Brown. “(Our coaches) teach us a lot of good stuff. They teach us how to respect others, during a game and outside of football, and it makes us play better.”

The Titans, who call Peanut Park their home field, already have a championship banner for the season. The Titans went 6-2 overall, going 6-0 versus their own division, to win the Southeastern Virginia Pop Warner Conference midget, Division 2 championship.

“It feels great. We worked this hard to go to the playoffs after a lot of people doubted us. We wanted to prove to everyone we can do it,” said Kenneth Bowe, Titan center and middle linebacker.

“Everyone doubted us because in past years, we didn’t win games like this,” Brown said.

Now, though, the Titans are headed to the regional semifinals and a contest against the Greensboro Giants in the Raleigh, N.C. area on Nov. 19.

The Mid-South Region spans Virginia, the Carolinas, West Virginia, Tennessee and Alabama.

If, or as head coach Dewan Bryant said, “when we win two games,” the Titans will be bound for the Disney’s Wide World of Sports and a shot for the national championship in the Pop Warner Super Bowl from Dec. 3-10.

“Basically, the kids have worked hard on the field and off the field. This is a group of guys all of the coaches are real proud of,” Bryant said.

“We have to go down there and do what we know to do,” Porter said.

“Our defense makes us win our games. The offense is good, but our defense leads us,” Brown said.

“We’ve been practicing a little bit hard. We’ve got to make sure we’ll be in shape for the playoff games so we’ll be ready,” Bowe said.