Fifth graders at Deauville Gardens East Elementary School in the Copiague School District are showing off their accuracy skills and ability to operate under pressure. Ahead of the highly anticipated Super Bowl LIX, they recently participated in their own version of the big game with the winner taking on News12 reporter Kevin Maher. 

Mr. Maher visited with fifth grade students in mid-January to challenge them to a paper football tournament. He explained the rules of the game, including how to score field goals and touchdowns. Each game consisted of two 90-second halves. 

The fifth grade students in each of the four classes battled against each other to name a winner. The champions then went head-to-head in paper football games until Jacob Estevez was ultimately named the winner. 

On Jan. 30, Mr. Maher and the New12 crew came to the school for the Paper Super Bowl match. Copiague students, dressed in blue and holding up signs of encouragement, cheered on their fellow classmate as he took on the challenge. After an intense game, Estevez was crowned the winner, with a 54-27 victory.