Sanford-Seminole County Flag Football League kicks off this weekend

Sanford City Commissioner Kerry Wiggins Sr. said he hopes people will come out, watch and support young people and adults in the newly formed Sanford-Seminole County Flag Football League.

The youth league will start play next Saturday at Mellonville Center at Tim Raines Sports Park, 1211 S. Mellonville Ave., Sanford.

Some of the youth teams are sponsored by current or former NFL players with links to Sanford. Many were coached by Wiggins himself.

Former Washington football team player Reggie Branch, for example, is one of the sponsors. The two-time Super Bowl champion first played here at Seminole High School.

On Saturday, Branch’s Skins will face the Tricoli Law Panthers in the first game for the 9 to 10 age group. That game will start at 9 a.m. followed at 10 a.m. by the D&J Investments Jaguars versus the McClary-Davis Bucs.

The 11 to 13 age group will feature the Edwards Tigers against Ray-Ray’s Canes at 11 a.m. Finally, on Saturday at noon, the Lewis Law Jaguars will play against Gabe’s Bills.

On Sunday, four adult teams will face off starting at 2 p.m. with a game between the Panthers and the Recovery Warriors. The last game at 3:30 p.m. will feature Wiggins own Team Wiggs versus The Rock of Central Florida. There are five adult teams with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office’s Team Lemma having a bye week on the first weekend.

Those who want to see Coach Wiggins on the field may get the chance to see his quarterback skills.

“I’m going to throw the ball around a little bit,” Wiggins said.

The league is an effort spearheaded by Wiggins to get young people involved in more programs.

“It’s not so much about football as about how much I love my home,” Wiggins explained in July when the league won approval from the Sanford City Commission.