SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Football is king in Nebraska, though a squad of 13 boys is threatening to unseat the Cornhuskers as the state’s most popular team.

The mashers from the Midwest made their historic debut Thursday night at the Little League World Series as Kearney, Neb. lost to Goodlettsville, Tenn. 12-1.

The Kearney kids are the first team from Nebraska to ever play in the tournament. Catcher Cole Staab said his team is getting emails and text messages from family, friends and new-found baseball fans from all over Nebraska.

Some players have been wearing red Nebraska Cornhusker T-shirts in practice. Coach Monte Dakan said that while Huskers football is a “religion” back home, the Kearney boys are becoming household names, too.

Japan, Chinese Taipei and California won the other games on the opening day of the tournament.