KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Under the hum of portable lights in the back of the KCMOs Red Bridge Baptist ChurchNearly 100 KC area athletes are building a national powerhouse.

“It’s not easy to form a team and get a group of homeschooled kids together and teach them the sport.” Jesus Preparatory Academy head coach Tom Hurley said.

Approximately 90% of the Christ Prep football team’s players are homeschooled.

“Christ Prep is a three-day-a-week college preparatory school where kids can either go there three days a week and take all of their classes, or homeschooled kids can pick and choose the classes they want to take,” Hurley said.

They meet at church four days a week to practice.

“It’s great, especially for me,” senior linebacker Ezekiel Stone said. “My circle of people isn’t big enough to homeschool. I have friends at church, I have a lot of siblings. But because I’m here, I have many siblings. Lots of friends.”

“Everybody is invested in everybody’s life,” sophomore quarterback Justice Criniere said. “We really care about each other.”

“Football isn’t what this program is about,” Hurley said. “Our goal is to raise Godly people for the next generation. “Football is a good way to help young men learn to grow and be ready for life.”

patriots one KSHSAA-approved team. They fill the first half of their schedule with games against schools on both sides of the state border.

“Once everyone starts their conference or district play, the playoffs are when we start playing other homeschool teams,” Hurley said.

Next up: Their Super Bowl.

Christ Prep enters the field with a second-place finish National Homeschool Soccer Tournament next week in Panama City Beach, Florida.

The Patriots finished second last year behind this year’s winner, Houston.

“I think we can do this. We believe in each other. As long as we play as a team, we will be fine,” he said.

The team will head to the Sunshine State on Sunday. Their first match is this Wednesday.

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