The EAGLES are one of the ten teams in this season’s 7-9 year-old age division, however, they are definitely making a name for themselves.  With one more week to go in the regular season, the EAGLES currently sit with a 3-1 record.  Although the EAGLES are one of four 3-1 teams in their age group, they have posted some impressive wins and are definitely one of the stronger teams in that bunch.

Lamar Russ is the coach of this talented EAGLES team.  This is his second year coaching in the PFFL and enjoys doing it to get his family active.  Both his son, niece, and nephew are all members of the team.

He thinks flag football is a great sport for kids:

“You don’t have that fear factor like you do with tackle football, so it gives them a chance to really enjoy the sport without the fear being there.”

Aside from the safety, Coach Russ feels flag football teaches players valuable lessons like working hard in practice, teamwork, and listening to authority figures.  He says those are important skill sets they can use outside of flag football.

Coach Russ’s EAGLES’ include Bryce Bestic, Matthew Fulmore, Gabriel Marino, Landon Pickett, Ray Russ, Rayven Russ, and Jayden Turner.

Ray Russ, Landon Pickett, and Jayden Turner all said they like to play flag football because it’s fun.  Rayven Russ added she likes working together with her teammates.

Matthew Fulmore feels flag football is “easier than getting tackled in real football and you don’t get broken faces.”

Now although I’ve never heard of getting broken faces in contact football, flag football is a safer alternative for kids who want to learn the game.  

That is why Bryce Bestic says he plays – to get him prepared for regular football.  Gabriel Marino added that “tackle football is much harder because you have to bring the person down, but in flag football you just have to grab the flag out of their belt.”

All of the EAGLES enjoy playing flag football, which shows in their several wins.  Most of them told me they enjoy playing offense in their games.  However, Matthew and Bryce said they like defense, which Bryce summed up in one reason:

“I like defense because defense wins championships.”    

The EAGLES have been playing well on both sides of the ball this season.  Earlier in the season, they held two teams to shutouts.  In their last two games, they’ve scored four touchdowns in each.  One thing is for sure – if the EAGLES keep up their hard work they can definitely make a deep playoff run.