The San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl is teaming up with American Youth Football and the Palomar and San Diego Conferences of Pop Warner Football, bowl chairman Rudy Castruita announced today.  Each championship football team and cheerleading squad will be provided with game tickets, and the most inspirational football player from each conference will be recognized.

The San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl kicks off the 2006-07 bowl schedule at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, December 19 at Qualcomm Stadium.  The game matches a top team from the Mountain West Conference against an at-large opponent.  The event’s beneficiary is the Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego.

“The San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl is a young game, and we’re excited to be reaching out to kids and their families in a meaningful way,” Castruita said. “In particular, we look forward to recognizing a few of these young athletes as inspirations to their teams and programs.”

Each conference will nominate a youth athlete as their program’s “Most Inspirational Player.” The three winners, as determined by Poinsettia Bowl officials, will be awarded plaques at the AT&T Poinsettia Bowl Team Luncheon on December 18, and will be recognized on the field during the game.

The championship cheerleading squads will be participants in the bowl game halftime show.