thedrifter
12-05-08, 07:35 AM
Marines' flag football game scores touchdown for children
December 4, 2008 - 12:48 PM
BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER
No matter what the final score turns out to be in the fourth annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots flag football game, the real winners will be the Yuma County children who will be getting a present under the tree for it.
Members of Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 will be playing a football team made up of players from four Yuma high schools Friday in a charity game for the Corps' Toys for Tots program.
"This is something we look forward to every year," said Sgt. Abel Torres. "We won the inaugural game, but haven't fared so well the past two years so we will be trying to redeem ourselves this year."
The game of flag football, which also happens to be a little bit about bragging rights, will be played at the Yuma High School football stadium beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Players from Yuma, Kofa, Cibola and San Luis high schools will be participating in the game.
"This year we have four of the five local high schools involved so it should stir up a lot of interest," Torres said. "They just finished their seasons so they should still be in good football shape and ready to go."
Torres said he expects the game to be competitive because everyone on the Marine team has played at least one year of football before, including their quarterback, Capt. Andrew Miller, who played the position in college.
"We are fortunate to have him," Torres said. "If we didn't have him, we would be in trouble."
After winning the inaugural game in 2005 by a score of 25-19, the high schoolers have taken the next two, winning by 14 points last year and 10 points the year before.
Torres said the Marine team has been practicing for the past month, adding he thinks they may have one advantage heading into the game.
"They are all from different teams and hopefully won't be used to playing together, which could work to our advantage."
The game could also be a high-scoring affair as well, due to a rule change going into effect this year.
"We wanted to make it fun for everyone," Torres said. "Unlike last year, everyone will be eligible to catch a pass. The goal is to run the score up."
Admission to the game is a donation of one new, unwrapped toy. Each person will also receive a ticket for a halftime raffle of prizes donated by local businesses.
Additionally, family members from VMFT-401 will be operating the concession stand and donating the proceeds to Toys for Tots.
Also, reigning Miss Yuma County 2009, Antigone "Tiggy" Mitchell will be at the game meeting people and calling out the ticket numbers for the halftime raffle.
She will also conduct the coin toss at the beginning of the game.
Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Maj. Bill Hendricks and a group of fellow Marine reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The 1947 pilot project was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign.
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MARINE FIGHTER TRAINING SQUADRON 401 ROSTER
Lt. Col. Timothy Frank
Maj. Gregory Hauck
Maj. Brian Cole
Capt. Andrew Miller
Master Sgt. Johnny McDaniel
Retired Master Sgt. Ross Chapa
Staff Sgt. Edwin Jose
Sgt. Abel Torres
Sgt. Victor Navarro
Sgt. Allen McBride
Sgt. Henry Calderon
Sgt. Christopher Mitchell
Sgt. Mike Calvin
Cpl. Troy Hutchinson
---
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.
Ellie
December 4, 2008 - 12:48 PM
BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER
No matter what the final score turns out to be in the fourth annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots flag football game, the real winners will be the Yuma County children who will be getting a present under the tree for it.
Members of Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 will be playing a football team made up of players from four Yuma high schools Friday in a charity game for the Corps' Toys for Tots program.
"This is something we look forward to every year," said Sgt. Abel Torres. "We won the inaugural game, but haven't fared so well the past two years so we will be trying to redeem ourselves this year."
The game of flag football, which also happens to be a little bit about bragging rights, will be played at the Yuma High School football stadium beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Players from Yuma, Kofa, Cibola and San Luis high schools will be participating in the game.
"This year we have four of the five local high schools involved so it should stir up a lot of interest," Torres said. "They just finished their seasons so they should still be in good football shape and ready to go."
Torres said he expects the game to be competitive because everyone on the Marine team has played at least one year of football before, including their quarterback, Capt. Andrew Miller, who played the position in college.
"We are fortunate to have him," Torres said. "If we didn't have him, we would be in trouble."
After winning the inaugural game in 2005 by a score of 25-19, the high schoolers have taken the next two, winning by 14 points last year and 10 points the year before.
Torres said the Marine team has been practicing for the past month, adding he thinks they may have one advantage heading into the game.
"They are all from different teams and hopefully won't be used to playing together, which could work to our advantage."
The game could also be a high-scoring affair as well, due to a rule change going into effect this year.
"We wanted to make it fun for everyone," Torres said. "Unlike last year, everyone will be eligible to catch a pass. The goal is to run the score up."
Admission to the game is a donation of one new, unwrapped toy. Each person will also receive a ticket for a halftime raffle of prizes donated by local businesses.
Additionally, family members from VMFT-401 will be operating the concession stand and donating the proceeds to Toys for Tots.
Also, reigning Miss Yuma County 2009, Antigone "Tiggy" Mitchell will be at the game meeting people and calling out the ticket numbers for the halftime raffle.
She will also conduct the coin toss at the beginning of the game.
Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Maj. Bill Hendricks and a group of fellow Marine reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The 1947 pilot project was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign.
---
MARINE FIGHTER TRAINING SQUADRON 401 ROSTER
Lt. Col. Timothy Frank
Maj. Gregory Hauck
Maj. Brian Cole
Capt. Andrew Miller
Master Sgt. Johnny McDaniel
Retired Master Sgt. Ross Chapa
Staff Sgt. Edwin Jose
Sgt. Abel Torres
Sgt. Victor Navarro
Sgt. Allen McBride
Sgt. Henry Calderon
Sgt. Christopher Mitchell
Sgt. Mike Calvin
Cpl. Troy Hutchinson
---
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.
Ellie