Mighty Mo football

Mo, had his first flag football game of the spring season this weekend with his new team, the Steelers. It was a pre-season game so the coaches could fine tune and not cost them a win or loss in regular season. I thought I would share the results.

The team shirts had not arrived by game day so Mo played in his technical tee. Also there was some confusion on game fields and game times so lots of teams and parents were just sitting around watching other games on a hill overlooking the fields. As his game continued, more and more people who recognized Mo started shouting his name, "Get a flag, Mo!", "C'mon, Mo!" Perhaps a group of a dozen to start but his name is easy to remember and the crowd was having fun so more and more joined in.

As with last season and probably why he generates such comments is he is completely focused on the game. During the plays he pursues every kid with the ball. As you would expect he doesn't catch many but he runs everything out full speed. And instead of lollygagging or getting into the defensive huddle he runs right back to his position on the defense line and gets into a focused ready position.

After three or four sets on defense, one of the parents on our team mentioned that the other teams offense was staying away from Mo's side of the line, even though he had not pulled a single flag. As more time went by it was obvious to everyone that Mo was dictating the offensive movement (away from him) on the field. When Mo did get his flag it happened so fast that no one realized it, let alone the runner. Mo stuffed his arm into the air and the crowd erupted.

Now, in age 5-6 flag football, after a team scores a touchdown, the other offense starts on their own twenty yard line and moves towards the end zone on the opposite side of field. In this situation, there was only ten seconds left to play and Mo was the only player on the team to not have played offense during the game. The coach decided to put Mo in as a running back.

The ball was handed off to him at the goal line and in what was called by all spectators the "Greatest Play of the Game", Mo got the ball and ran the entire length of the field for a touchdown on the last play of the game.

Right into the throng of people who had been cheering him on during the game. What a great celebration.

The pursuers thoughts, "He got away from me?"

Notice the hand on Mo's flag.

Howard Cosell: "He could go..all the way"