Russellville hosts flag football event

Noah Steenbergen runs to the left side during Russellville's flag football game Friday, June 19.
Noah Steenbergen runs to the left side during Russellville's flag football game Friday, June 19.

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Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/WILLIAM MOORE Arkansas' Marshawn Powell battles for position against Alabama Birmingham's Elijah Millsap Saturday, January 2, 2010 at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

RUSSELLVILLE - It wasn't that long ago when a parent-led group got the green light to continue to build a Missouri High School Athletic Association football team at Russellville, and last Friday night, football was played under the lights at Russellville High School.

"This is a great dress rehearsal for what we will be doing in the future," said Zach Hackett. "Our league is set to start in Jefferson City, and this is a good way to play some teams that have some experience and talented players."

The concession stands were open and the lights were on, something Hackett loved to see. Four teams of fourth and fifth graders took part in the event, one team from Russellville and Jefferson City and two from Camdenton.

"It's the first real event that we've put on and sponsored," said Hackett. "We're hoping the community supports it just by showing up and learning about it. Obviously we'd like some fundraising to follow that. That's really the point of this, to get a spotlight event so the community knows, this is real, this is happening."

Hackett says approximately 100 people were on hand to watch the round-robin style flag football games, and the football boosters raised $500. They didn't plan on raising much money, but the 50/50 raffle and donation boxes helped, Hackett said.

Since the announcement in April that the football boosters could move forward, Hackett has seen a boom in kid involvement and community support. Starting with three kids three years ago, he says around 30 to 40 kids have shown interest in signing up for flag football teams.

"We've had a lot more kid involvement," said Hackett. "The kid involvement has been huge, and we hope the parents will get involved and support what the kids want to do.

"We haven't really come across any roadblocks yet, but that's because the school board is on board and superintendent is supportive. We've got some very active parents that want to see this happen and benefit the school district and the community."

There are plans for a football camp in early fall, and a golf tournament next year to help continue to build the football program.