Windham Under-11 and Under-12 flag football teams make it to championship games

Under-11 Windham Ravens are Colin McKenna,
Jackson Durgin, Boston Krainis, Colin Janvrin,
Luke Drottar, Camden Martell, Parker Sperry,
and Landon Wyman. SUBMITTED PHOTO.

By Matt Pascarella

In early August, the Under-11 flag football team, the Windham Ravens, and Under-12 flag football team, the Windham Cardinals, began their seasons. These teams were organized by parents and were part of the Maine Flag Football League (MFFL); an NFL Flag organization. Both teams made it to the playoffs in their respective divisions and played at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland on Oct. 10 but lost their championship games. They both had great seasons and a lot of fun.

The pandemic caused many groups to postpone or cancel their tackle football seasons. The MFFL worked closely with the Maine Center for Disease Control to take the necessary precautions and maximize the safety of players, coaches, officials and spectators. The MFFL’s goal is to expand flag football in Maine and facilitate fun and fair play across the state.

The Under-12 Windham Cardinals were No. 3 seed as they headed into their playoff games. Windham beat the Scarborough Chiefs and No. 2 Portland Seahawks to make it to the championship to play the No.1 undefeated Scarborough 49ers. The Cardinals finished their season 10-3.

The Under-11 Windham Ravens were No. 2 seed as they headed into the playoffs. Windham beat the South Portland Steelers and the Portland Browns. In the Under-11 Gold Championship game, the
Ravens played Scarborough. The Ravens finished their season 10-4.

“It was awesome. It was fun to try something new with my friends and make it all the way to the championship," said Under-11 Windham player Boston Krainis.

Flag football resembles tackle football but incorporates many modified rules and only five players per side. In place of tackling, defense must pull one of two flags attached to the offensive player’s belt.

Flag football strategy is different from tackle which can make it more challenging. These two Windham teams were made of tackle football players that might have never played flag football. They were able to adjust quickly and had successful seasons.

Under-12 Windham Cardinals are Coach Pat Moody,
AJ Moody, Ryan McPherson, Coach Scott Winslow,
Garret Winslow, Coach Evan Hutchinson, Reese 
Hutchinson, Bradley Muse, Mason Arbour,
and Owen Kaffel.
PHOTO BY RENEE MCPHERSON

Windham Under-12 coach Evan Hutchinson has been coaching his team in some capacity over the past five years. He has seen them mature immensely and that maturity was definitely on display during this unprecedented season.

“Having the opportunity to coach these young men over the summer has been a great privilege and lots of fun,” said Hutchinson. The season was a success. “The athletic ability of these young men is off the charts. It is their character that I am most proud of as a coach.”

Under-11 Windham Ravens coach Jeff Wyman and assistant coach Sperry had fun coaching the boys. Wyman was glad the president of the MFFL Amos Goss, reached out to them to put together a team. “It was a bit of a learning curve for most of these players having to adjust to the rules of flag (football) versus what they had been doing in tackle; we even had a couple boys who had not played any organized football at all. Overall, I feel we had a great season,” said Wyman.

The Ravens led their Under-11 division scoring 363 points – the most scored this season. <