Games We Play: AFI welcomes youth world champions

Some of the finest youth flag football players in the world will attend a series of clinics and exhibition games in Jerusalem

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
flag football 298.88 (photo credit: Jay L. Abramoff/ AFI)
flag football 298.88
(photo credit: Jay L. Abramoff/ AFI)
American Football in Israel will be hosting a series of clinics and exhibition games at Kraft Family Stadium in Jerusalem this week, with the arrival in Israel of some of the finest youth flag football players in the world. A group of young players representing the "Mo Steel" football program, which is run out of the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center in North Miami, Florida, USA, is coming to Israel to tour the country and also play flag football with Israeli counterparts from the AFI. In 2004, the "Mo Steel" 15-and-under team won the NFL Flag Football World Championship in Vancouver, Canada. "We are so excited to come to Israel and share our knowledge and love of flag football with Jewish children who love flag football as well," said "Mo Steel" head coach David Fried. On Tuesday, the "Mo Steel" players and coaches will conduct clinics for the Israeli children currently enrolled in AFI's afterschool youth football program. On Thursday night, December 22, and on Saturday evening, December 24, the "Mo Steel" teams will play exhibition games against some of Israel's best high school flag football teams. Mass Mutual knocks out Travaglini After Mass Mutual lost 70-0 to Lobos on Friday, it had to tie or beat Mug Club late Saturday night to claim the 16th spot in the upper tier of the Heritage Affinity AFI men's league. Mass Mutual pulled away in the second half - after midnight - for a 68-12 victory that knocked Travaglini out of the top 16. Travaglini lost 50-22 to Norman's on Friday, and its chances depended on a Mug Club upset. The team's players showed up to cheer for the underdogs, despite an 11:30 p.m. kickoff at Kraft Family Stadium in Jerusalem. Mug Club had just lost to Yesodei.org, and agreed to the late night doubleheader after its game against Mass Mutual had been postponed from the previous week. Also Saturday night, Klein Management fielded its strongest team of the season and beat previouslyundefeated Tov Pizza 20-16. Fairmont Funding's own streak of five straight wins came crashing down against Pizzeria Efrat, 27-18. No Saturday night team will finish the first round undefeated. The second round begins this weekend. Misha'an Plumbers rout Boston Friends/Havila in women's league In week five of the Fieldturf Women's American Football in Israel league, Misha'an Plumbers got their fourth win of the season in a rout over the winless Boston Friends/Havila squad, 34-0. Also last week, it was: Ziontours 26, Cincinnati Friends 6; Jump Gym 15, Diamonds.com 6; Big Blue 46, Pueblo Nuevo Productions 6; and Cafe Rimon 25, Eden's Eagles 7. Fieldturf WAFI Standings after five weeks (wins-losses-ties): Big Blue (5-0-0), Ziontours (5-0-0), Mishaan Plumbers (4-0-1), Jump Gym (4-1-0), Cincinnati Friends (2-2-1), Cafe Rimon (2-3-0), Diamonds.com (1-2-2), Boston Friends/Haviva (0-5-0), Eden's Eagles (0-5-0), Pueblo Nuevo Productions (0-5-0). Oasis stays hot in high school league After starting the season at 0-3, things looked bleak for Oasis Management in the High School American Football in Israel league. However, Oasis maintained its composure and last week pulled to 3-3 after its third straight win. Last week's HSAFI results: Oasis Management 31, Bulldogs 6; Pizza Sababa/ Superdeal 45, Dominators 12; and Chasmo Jaguars 31, Buckeyes 20. HSAFI standings: Pizza Sababa/Superdeal (6-0), Chasmo Jaguars (4-2), Thunderbolts (4-2), Buckeyes (3-3), Oasis Management (3-3), Dominators (1 5), Bulldogs (0-6).