Story by Nicolette Sarmiento
Assistant Editor in Chief
LA PUENTE – Bishop Amat High School’s softball program sponsored the Inaugural Alumni Flag Football game as a fundraiser at Kiefer Stadium on Saturday in which former Lancer football players participated.
Past Lancers, including several faculty members and coaches, were reunited with their old teammates on the same field for a little friendly competition.
Lancer defensive coordinator and former Amat great, Daylon McCutcheon, helped organize the event.
“We wanted to bring back all the families and alumni players to keep the Amat tradition going,” McCutcheon said after the game.
Those who participated were chosen to play for either the blue or the white team depending on their graduating year–odds versus evens.
It was the white team that started on offense in the first twenty-six-minute half. However, on the first play of the game, 2007 graduate, Michael Shay, picked off a pass for the blue team.
Though the interception seemed like a momentum-changer, quarterback for the blue team, Sean Koelle threw a Hail Mary toward the end zone that resulted in a pick.
The blue team would get the ball back and take the first half with the score of 14-0.
At half time, the players socialized with their teammates, old coaches, families, and their fellow alumni.
As the second half ensued, the blue team still retained possession. They drove down the field and scored yet another touchdown and two-point conversion to extend their lead to 22-0.
The white team would bounce back, however, scoring two consecutive touchdowns to cut the blue team’s lead to just seven.
Still, the blue team prevailed, 28-22.
There were no hard feelings. Instead, the players–tired and sore–described the experience as fun and humbling.
Tyrone Chamois, who graduated in 1992, described the game as a rewarding experience.
“It’s great to see everyone from my Lancer team again,” he said. “It’s the Amat family. I mean, playing with guys that are 10, 15 years younger than me is just awesome.”
The fundraiser was successful according to the event coordinator and softball coach Jesse Mendez.
“We wanted to see the old legendary players and how they’re doing,” Mendez said. “It was a great turnout for the first year so we’ll definitely want to continue it as part of the Amat tradition.”
