October 1, 2013 THE Vol. 8 No. 1

Turf

The Official Newspaper of the Flag Football League of Kansas City

Saints top Panthers, 26-8

The Panthers, a third-grade team, had some trepidation taking on the fourth-grade Saints, but came out of the game with their heads held high.

The Saints won, 26-8, behind the play of Aiden Demark and Andrew Carr, but the Panthers had their moments.

"We played the fourth graders and I think they're a tough team," said Henderson Brant. "I thought they might kill us, but we sort of got a lot of points."

Brant and his teammates from Prairie Elementary Panthers quarterback Wilson Moore (#6) checks down on his receivers as enjoyed their game against the Saints, and they teammates Harry Gasal (#2) and Brayden Tuttle (#5), and Saints defender especially enjoy playing defense. Henry Fountain (#85) look on.

"Our flag pulling wasn't that good," he said. "But Carr was pleased with the victory. Cade (Austin) had three interceptions. And at the end we got to chase geese over there." "I think I played pretty good," he said.

"We did pretty good," agreed Jack Laird. "Our He and Demark, classmates from St. Paul's Episcopal interceptions we did really good." Day School, both enjoy playing in the FFL.

Football is a favorite activity for Laird and Brant. "I like it because it's pretty physical," Carr said.

"I like that you can hit people," Brant said. "I like it when my wide receivers catch the ball and get touchdowns," Demark added. "I like everything "I like that I can go after the quarterback," Laird about football." added. "It's fun to get interceptions and runbacks." While Demark is a quarterback and Carr slots in as a Mostly, though, it's about having fun with their , they both like NFL players at other friends. positions.

"I like playing with my friends," said Brady Symon. "I like ," Carr said, although he doesn't "It's really fun.” want to change to Brees' quarterback position. "I'd rather be a running back. You get to run a lot and Brant also likes other activities. get touchdowns."

"I like playing with my brother and destroying him," "I like (wide receiver) Dez Bryant," Demark said. he said. "He's really good.” T H E S P O R T S T U R F page 2

Wildcats Outlast Chiefs

Quarterback Matthew Kelly connected with receiver Charlie Coones on a deep touchdown pass as time expired to help the Wildcats defeat the Chiefs, 20- 14 in a tight defensive matchup. Kelly and Coones, third-graders from Cure of Ars, and teammate Caleb Ciccone, a running back from Brookridge, enjoy football and watching their favorite player, .

"He's really fast and he outruns guys," said Ciccone, who also enjoys "running the ball and catching the ball and outrunning guys." Chiefs rushers Ryan Wilkerson (#35) tries to escape a flag pull from Wildcats defender Caleb Ciccone (#9) as Charlie Coones (#11) moves in. The Wildcats beat the Chiefs, 20-14. "It's really fun," Kelly added about playing in the FFL. "I like making passes and handing off." can get interceptions and flag pulls." Chiefs center and defensive back Liam Quinn, a Nativity third-grader, prefers playing defense. Football, in general, is a favorite activity for Quinn. "It's like, you can do whatever you want," he said. "It's "I play back," he said. "I like defense best because I just so awesome.”

Packers Whitewash Light Knights, 26-0

Ford Bevins caught a touchdown at the end of the first half as the Packers shutout the Light Knights, 26-0.

Bevins, a Sunrise Point first grader, plays quarterback and nose tackle in addition to occasionally receiving passes.

"That's the best play in football," he said of a touchdown catch, but he most enjoys playing defense. "I like snapping flags."

When he's not playing football, he enjoys playing Minecraft, and adds that his two little sisters "are annoying." With teammate Griffin Richard (#5) looking on, Packers receiver Ford Bevins (#42) catches a pass for a score just before halftime against Light Knights defenders Ben Frankie Tryban plays quarterback and is a safety Wachtel (#4), Jacob Liesmann (#7), and Will Simon (#6). on defense for the Light Knights. "We have a special play when I'm at quarterback," Tryban "Because I like it," he said of why he enjoys explained. "I hand it to him and he hands it back to me. football. "I get to play with my friends.“ We call it 'special sauce'." He and teammate William Volker have cooked up a play to surprise defenses who overplay the When not enjoying football, the Nativity first-grader plays pass. with his five siblings, and he says his favorite team is KU. T H E S P O R T S T U R F page 3 Vikings, Dark Knights Draw

Joe Baker celebrates his pick six touchdown with an end zone dance. The Dark Knights tied the Vikings, 18-18.

Both Joe Baker of the Dark Knights and Joshua "I intercepted it and scored," he said. Fendler of the Vikings enjoyed their matchup, which ended in an 18-18 tie. Baker made like his favorite player, running quickly down the sideline for the score. "It was a good game," said Fendler, of Mission Trail Elementary. "I like Jamaal Charles, because he's fast," he said.

"I liked it a lot," said Baker, a Nativity first-grader. Fendler also wants to emulate his favorite player.

Baker collected two interceptions, and returned one "I like ," he said. "I like to play to the house for a pick six, after which he did a quarterback. I like to run and pull flags." touchdown dance in the end zone.