Cops detain firefighters on field

For the third year in a row, the Monroe Police Department walked away with a win during the Monroe Police versus Fire Flag Football Game, prevailing over firefighters with a score of 14-12.

The 2016 Flag Football Championship benefitting the Monroe Boys & Girl Club took place at noon Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Monroe High School football field. First responders from Snohomish County Fire District 7 and the Monroe Police Department braved the damp weather to battle it out on the field to raise money for the Monroe Boys & Girls Club, with support from game sponsors Man Cave Barbershop, Big Dog's Hotdogs, Bill Warburton State Farm Insurance Agency, Columbia Bank and Jones Family Orthodontics.

Big Dog's owner Jerry "Big DogGÇ¥ Dixon served as the event emcee. Early numbers indicate that the game raised around $1,800, which will serve the community by supporting Boys & Girls Club programs in Monroe.

Music was provided by Sultan residents Zachary and Tyler Torgerson of the Ignoriors, who performed the National Anthem.

The teams faced off nine-on-nine this year, rather than seven-on-seven, since the recent fire district merger meant there were more players available on the fire side. The Monroe police team answered that call by recruiting David Saarinen and Shawn Kunkel, both officers from the Bothell Police Department who serve with Monroe on the North Sound Regional SWAT Team.

Saarinen and Kunkel spent the day on the field helping to carry out key plays, including a dramatic interception by Kunkel in the second half.

All first responders volunteered their time to participate in the game.

This year's play was tighter and more concise than in the past, with both sides giving it all they had. Flag football is different than ordinary football in that there is no tackling, and players are not allowed to dive to gain additional yardage. There are no field goals in flag football; after a touchdown is scored, it's up to the scoring team to determine how they want to proceed. The ball can be run in from the 20-yard line for three points, the 10-yard line for two points and the five-yard line for one point.

While there was no blood this year, at least one officer was down a pair of shorts after an eventful first half. Officer Travis Block didn't let the ripped clothing slow him down, neatly catching a pass from quarterback Jason Southard to score the first touchdown of the game with 14 minutes left in the half. The extra point was scored by Officer Derrick Lether, bringing the score to 7-0.

The fire team answered with a touchdown of its own, scored by dynamo Evan Merritt with just 2 minutes and 38 seconds to go. The police team responded swiftly, with an interception by Officer Joe Stark and a fierce run by Officer Paul Henderson that extended more than 50 yards.

Lether scored the second touchdown of the game with just 39 seconds left in the half and Block grabbed the extra point, bringing the score to 14-6 at halftime. The half time show included Boys & Girls Club kids playing in their own flag football match, with music by the Ignoriors.

It's great to get the opportunity to give back, said fire team quarterback Scott Rybar during the break. -á -á

"It's just fun being out here for the Boys & Girls Club,GÇ¥ Rybar said.

Competition was tough during the second half, as the fire team defense effectively prevented any further scoring by the police. Merritt caught a key interception with less than 10 minutes left in the game, which led to a touchdown scored by Curtis Greiner, bringing the fire team's score to 12. They attempted a three-point conversion from the 20-yard line but were unsuccessful. The last two minutes of the game were action-packed, both sides dancing with the opportunity to score but not quite getting there. The game ended with a score of 14-12.

Southard called the game their toughest challenge yet.

The Monroe Boys & Girls Club has been a part of the Monroe community since 1981. The club initially operated in the Frank Wagner bus barn, which was near the Wagner Performing Arts Center. Flag football has been a Boys & Girls Club staple since the club first opened its doors and continues to be one of its signature activities.

The club was constructed at its current location off of Village Way in 1997, with new construction in 2006 that added a teen center, kitchen, community room and tech lab.

One of the club's primary objectives is to never turn a child away for financial reasons, and funds raised during the game will help support that objective.

Rasmussen said he was grateful to the Monroe Police Department and Snohomish County Fire District 7 for their continued support of the event. For more information about the Monroe Boys & Girls Club, visit www.facebook.com/MonroeBoysGirlsClub.-á