June 13, 2008 09:00 am
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By JACK CLARK
jackclark@mvn.net
MT. VERNON — For most young men, football careers come to an abrupt halt upon graduation from high school. For some, the playing days can continue into college or even beyond.
Then there are those who adapt to another form of the game that they love to play, even as grown men.
Saturday afternoon at Mt. Vernon-Outland Airport, the Adult Flag Football League will play its 10th championship game.
This season’s final opponents will be the Rams and the Packers.
The AFFL was founded in 1998 by former King City resident Vernon Turner. Turner, an employee of Continental Tire of North America, was transferred to another facility last year. Turner was a former National Football League player, most notably with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he still holds some special teams records.
“Through the years, everyone just kind of jumped on board. Mike Carbonaro, Ron Harlow and Mike Irwin were kind of the ‘founding fathers’,” said AFFL commissioner Mike Blakemore. “The league was affiliated with the city of Mt. Vernon for a number of years. The last five seasons, we have been a part of the YMCA.”
Blakemore was asked to run the league after the departure of Turner.
“I was honored to be asked to take over the league,” he said.
Blakemore said that the AFFL attracts players from all around Southern Illinois. Including former SIU-C players and some who make the drive from the St. Louis area. He emphasizes that the league is not inherent to only Jefferson County.
“This league is a huge representation of Southern Illinois,” said Blakemore. “It’s not just Mt. Vernon teams. There are guys who drive one, two, even three hours to come and play on Saturdays in this flag football league.”
Blakemore said that the players in the AFFL take what they do very seriously.
“This is more than just ‘flag football.’ These are weekend warriors that are preparing all year round,” Blakemore said. “They have off-season training. They are serious about this.”
The Rams (4-2 in 2008 regular season) are the two-time defending champions. They have won three of the last four AFFL title games.
These Rams are making their sixth straight title game appearance.
But don’t underestimate the Packers (6-0 regular season), who were the only undefeated team in the league this year.
2008 represented a 13-game turnaround for the Packers, who finished winless at 0-7 in 2007.
The Rams defeated the Falcons in the 2008 semifinals, 14-12, to reach the championship game. The Packers got a one-point win over the Bears, 19-18, to advance to the title game.
The Rams player-coach is former Mt. Vernon Township High School athlete David Spann, who plays on the line. Blakemore is his assistant. Matt Beckham is the player-coach of the Packers.
Truvaunty Badger is the rookie quarterback for the Rams.
“Truvaunty has had a solid season,” Blakemore said. “But we have had a good defense as well.”
Blakemore said that the game, which begins at 1:30 p.m., will answer all questions about why young adults still want to play a kids game.
“We invite everyone to come out and see our passion and our love of flag football,” said Blakemore.
“Once you experience a game, you’ll see why people drive from so far away to be a part of this.”
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