Oakland celebrates McClymonds' football championship

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Downtown Oakland celebrated the city's first ever 5A Division high school football state championship won by the McLymonds High School team.

Last month McClymonds upset the heavily favored La Jolla Country Day football team 20-17 in the 5A Championship.

"It's amazing, phenomenal. I mean we ain't never been here before," said player Alex Hutchinson. "This is a first time for us so we're all excited. We're pumped about it."

"The fact that our school probably doesn't even have 400 students and they made it all the way to state and they won, this is a school of champions I'm telling you," said Parent Shaheda Wright.

After a city hall rally the McClymonds players rode on a bus and trolley through downtown and into a West Oakland community that doesn't always have reason to celebrate.

"One of the dangerous places to be, you know, succeeding and making it to a state championship, it's a blessing, an honor" said player Angelo Gerrett. "And it feels good to put a positive note on our city."

Winning this championship is an accomplishment, a victory and a moment these young men, their school and their city won't soon forget.