Monroe officers seek to hold title against firefighters

The competition will be fiercer than ever during this year's Monroe Police versus Fire Flag Football game, as the Monroe police team seeks to further its two-game winning streak.

The third annual Police versus Fire Monroe Boys & Girls Club fundraising event takes place at noon Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Monroe High School football field. The event will include two 30-minute halves, a 10-minute halftime, concessions, music and the National Anthem. Tickets are $5 until Friday, Sept. 16, and can be picked up at the Monroe Boys & Girls Club or from one of the game sponsors; Man Cave Barber Shop, the Bill Warburton State Farm Insurance agency, Columbia Bank and Jones Family Orthodontics.

Admission is $8 at the gate, which opens at 11 a.m. on game day. The police team is being sponsored by Jerry "Big DogGÇ¥ Dixon, owner of Big Dog's Hot Dog Joint, who will serve as the official event emcee. His wife, Jan, owner of Man Cave, is sponsoring the firefighter team.

All proceeds from the game will support youth programs at the Monroe Boys & Girls Club.

This year's challenge will feature updated rules and larger teams, said Monroe Boys & Girls Club Director Jeff Rasmussen. The recent merger between Fire District 3 and Fire District 7 meant that firefighters had more potential players to choose from, so they decided to up the ante. Ever the competitors, the Monroe police team was happy to oblige.

As a result, the teams will battle it out nine-on-nine.

"From a spectator standpoint, this will be nice,GÇ¥ Rasmussen said. "It's going to look a little more like real football.GÇ¥

Flag football is similar to regular football, except there is no tackling.-á Instead, when an offensive player is running with the ball, the defensive team must remove one of the two flags hanging from the player's belt to end the down. The official rules do allow for some contact. During last year's game, blocks were permitted, players were allowed to contact opponents during plays and blockers were allowed to work for and maintain their position on the field.

Officer Max Michel and firefighter paramedic Scott Rybar have been working to perfect the rules.

"They've actually been amazing in working with us on this,GÇ¥ Rasmussen said.-á

Each year, the winning team gets its name added to the official Police versus Fire Flag Football Championship trophy and earns bragging rights for the next 12 months.

This will be Officer Jason Southard's third year as quarterback for the police team.-á

"We are all looking forward to the game,GÇ¥ Southard said. "It has been a lot of fun watching attendance grow, knowing that is money for the Boys and Girls Club. Of course, we are competitive people on both sides. We still have the first two names on that trophy ' we would sure like to add another.GÇ¥

The police team took the win during the game's inaugural year in 2014, knocking out firefighters with a score of 20-15. Last year, the police took it again, prevailing over fire 18-6.

Attendance at the event has grown since its first year, and Rasmussen hopes the event will continue to rise in popularity. The club's goal is to sell more than 200 tickets this year, he said, beating last year's record of 150. All the money raised during the event goes straight back into the Monroe Boys & Girls Club, Rasmussen said, funding scholarships and supplies to support the club's youth-oriented programming.

"It continues to be our mission not to turn any child away for financial reasons, and it's stuff like this that really helps support that mission,GÇ¥ Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said that they are exceptionally grateful to the Monroe Police Department and Fire District 7 for their continued willingness to participate, as well as the game sponsors; Big Dog's, Man Cave, StateFarm, Columbia Bank and Jones Family Orthodontics. Their support is invaluable, Rasmussen said.

Each ticket purchase automatically enters its purchaser into the halftime raffle. Rasmussen said they are still welcoming raffle prizes; any local business wishing to donate an item can drop it by the Monroe Boys & Girls Club.-á -á

Monroe High School is located at 17001 Tester Road in Monroe. For more information about the event, to find out how to donate an item or learn more about the Monroe Boys & Girls Club, visit www.facebook.com/MonroeBoysGirlsClub.