On Saturday, March 8, students, parents, coaches, and volunteers gathered at Porterfield Park in the Town of Orange. This historic venue has witnessed many games and activities over the decades, often under the lights of a Friday night. However, on that particular Saturday afternoon, the focus was on something new, a flag football tournament for fourth and fifth grade students from local elementary schools! A few months earlier, Orange County High School Football Head Coach Colston Bayless came up with the idea of encouraging interest among the county’s younger students by hosting a cross- school flag football tournament. Practices in the week leading to the event would help introduce interested kids to the sport, while the tournament itself would promote good-natured competition. Are You Ready for Some (Flag) Football!? By: Jacob Deloriea, Recreation Programmer, Orange County Parks & Recreation Department Photo Credit: Ashley Jacobs, Management Analyst, Orange County Administration
A partnership with Orange County Parks & Recreation helped solidify the event plans. Organizers expected strong interest, but the activity easily rumbled past those estimates. When initially opened for registration, it was planned that each of the elementary schools (Gordon-Barbour, Lightfoot, Locust Grove, and Orange) would field one team made up of both fourth and fifth graders. However, with more than 80 kids signed up , it became clear that each school could field a team from each grade, and separate divisions would be needed.
The games started at 4:15 p.m. with perfect football weather - 50 degrees and sunny. After enjoying a sprint through the tunnel (a special treat for our young athletes), the teams wasted no time, and the explosive evening was off and running. In the fourth grade division, the Bulldogs defeated the Eagles, Timberwolves, and the Cheetahs to advance to the Championship game. The Cheetahs earned wins over the Eagles and Timberwolves to set up a rematch in the Final.
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OCI March 2025
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