thePULSEThe Undertakers Flag Football
By Meghan Ennes
They’re the Undertakers – agents of the Underworld who go by names like Alexis “Grim Reaper” Correa, Javier “Grave Digger” Peña, Cisco “Soul Reaper” Olivencia, and Tony “The Tiger” Lugo. They’re part of a flag football team worthy of its name, which originates from its major sponsor ~ Graham, Putnam & Mahoney Funeral Parlors.
The Worcester Undertakers started back in 2004 ~ just a few guys who wanted to get together and play the game for fun. The team now plays nine-man format for the Central Massachusetts Flag Football Association, a league of twelve flag football teams who compete weekly. The official season lasts from August to September, and the Undertakers practice weekly ~ and even though last post-season they were bumped out in the Quarter Finals, this season the team is roaring in full-tilt and fresh out of a spring session with the New England Flag Football Association this past April.
At home, they’re loving dads, husbands, and sons, but in the world of flag football, the Undertakers are brothers in arms. Team representative (and player) Javier Peña says the team is more like a family, and the close-knit ties amongst Undertakers go beyond the field. “They’re a bunch of great guys,” he says of his fellow teammates (or, as they prefer to call themselves, Undertakers-4-Life).
So what’s the difference between flag football and standard football? Not much. Instead of tackling, players pull a flag from the belt of their opponent, but that doesn’t make it any easier to play. There’s plenty of blocking, pushing, and reaching for that flag to keep this game a true contact sport.
The Undertakers are always looking for new recruits. Everyone is welcome to try out ~ regardless of experience. So if any of you guys out there have the ambition to join up and earn a badass nickname of your own, contact team representative Javier Peña at javypena@verizon.net.
