Some young football players in Jefferson Hills have received a Christmas present from the unlikely combination of Big Ben Roethlisberger and hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg.

The Thomas Jefferson Jaguars, members of the Thomas Jefferson Youth Football League, have been invited to play in the "Big Dog Bowl" at Redlands High School in Redlands, Calif. The locals will face the Glendale [Arizona] Bandits at 2 p.m. Jan. 9 for the title of Big Dog Bowl champions in their age group.

The Jaguars will be the only team from Pittsburgh. The team won the honor after going undefeated to win the 2009 championship in the 10-year-old category of the South Suburban Youth Football League, which is not sponsored by the West Jefferson Hills School District.

Snoop Dogg extended the invitation. Mr. Roethlisberger will pay expenses, about $18,000 for hotel rooms, airfare and game jerseys for the 24 players and four coaches.

"They support him as a Steeler and he supports them as Jaguars. That is incredible in their minds," said head coach Jim Nassida, of Jefferson Hills.

The tournament, featuring 26 league champions nationwide, is hosted by Snoop Dogg, who is a coach and father of a player. He also is founder of the Snoop Youth Football League, which serves a poor and gang-riddled area of Los Angeles.

The seeds of the Jaguars' journey were planted when Dominic Serapiglia, whose son Dominic plays on the team, contacted Snoop Dogg about staging a fundraiser with one of his teams to benefit Thomas Jefferson Youth Football.

While a fundraising game never materialized, a representative of the artist invited the Jaguars to play in the tournament after he learned of their 11-0 record.

With funding an issue, Mr. Serapiglia remembered Mr. Roethlisberger's visit in 2006 during which he took photographs with the league's 160 youngsters and let them try on one of his Super Bowl rings.

"I thought, 'What the heck? We'll see if he's interested in something like this,' " said Mr. Serapiglia, who contacted the quarterback's agent.

"It's awesome," player Justin Vigna said of sponsorship by his favorite NFL star.

He also is looking forward to traveling to California and meeting Snoop Dogg. "It's just unbelievable," Eric Copeland said.

Like their gridiron hero, the boys said they plan to stay focused on their goal.

"I just really want to win and have fun," Eric said.

For more information on the tournament, visit www.leaguelineup.com/bigdogbowl.

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