DJ Suggs, a religious affairs noncommissioned officer with the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG), has won more soccer championships in Las Vegas than any professional team currently playing in Las Vegas.

Suggs' team, playing for the Texas All-Stars, won the Dick Seuss Trophy last month by defeating their opponent, the Boykins Youth Foundation (BYF) Elite All-Stars, by a score of 34-19.

“I've been playing football for 14 years and this was my first All-Star Game,” Suggs said. “This meant a lot to me because I had been waiting for so long. My chance finally came and I grabbed it.”

The game was played at Jack Mannone Stadium in Las Vegas on December 2, 2023, and was one of three games played that day as part of the Minor League Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

“We had one goal and that was to win a trophy and bring it back to Texas,” Suggs said. “This game was like the Pro Football Hall of Fame game, only in the minor leagues.”

Suggs started the game as an outside linebacker, but was quickly switched to defensive end, where he used his speed and quickness to wreak havoc and help thwart BYF's offense.

A nightmarish blocker and always in the backfield, Suggs finished the game with five tackles, two sacks, one strip sack, one forced fumble, and at least eight quarterback hurries. finished. He also had two successful punts of over 40 yards.

“I tried to sneak in on offense, but the coaches wouldn't let me,” Suggs admitted. “He said it might be next year.”

The fact that it also happened to be part of friendly competition added to the excitement of the match.

Suggs explained that his team's manager also happens to be the owner and commissioner of the Texas United Football Association, and that a friend who also runs a team in a semi-pro league asked him if anyone could contribute to the team. It was about. The best team together.

“Every year she looks for players in Texas to join her team,” said Suggs, a late addition. “She hadn't seen me play, but there were some players on the team who vouched for me.”

Suggs said he trained in the months before the game to stay in shape, including shadow boxing, edge rush drills and running wide receiver routes.

“I don't stop, I keep going,” Suggs said. “In my opinion, if you train now, you won't have to prepare when the time comes.”

While the win was sweet for him, it's not the first time Suggs has won a championship in minor league football. This is actually the third time in the last four years.
He won the other two while stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, playing for the Northwest Hurricanes and South Sound Seminoles.

“We could have gotten the third one while we were there, but we lost the game by seven points,” Suggs said. “And the temperature was about 30 degrees when we played the game.”

Suggs said he feels he can still play for many years, but plans to hang up his cleats for a while and continue coaching all youth sports in his post. Youth flag football begins in April and parents are encouraged to register their players.

Youth interested in play can enroll in Child and Youth Services in the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Program.

Suggs will coach basketball and baseball later this year.