Salem players give lowdown on game

By Melody Gustafson

SALEM -- Players Brad Heckathorn and Adam Dopp recounted for Eastern Flash details of the Columbiana County KSU joint football game that took place Friday.

Heckathorn said that "going in" he felt that of their team of only eight players, at least four were valuable and intimidating, but he regretted that the majority of the team couldn't come because of other, last-minute commitments.

Of those that did play, though, Heckathorn said he was proud of their performance, despite the various pre-existing injuries that afflicted some of them.

"Our quarterback, Travis Schultz, kept playing, even though his arm was destroyed. Danny played in the rain with severe asthma, and I had back surgery less than a year ago. Adam just suffered a concussion a week before the game," Heckathorn said, then added, "We rocked."

According to the two men, the only reported injuries resulting from the game were an East Liverpool player's eye problem and a Salemite's scrotum issue.

Dopp mentioned that there were a few "wrinkles" that may have resulted from a lack of understanding of the rules of "flag football", but said that he is hopeful that he and David "Alex" Estell can work it out when they set game plans for next time. They agreed to make the games a biweekly occurence.

Besides the roughness, he is concerned with the complete lack of a referee for either side, and Salem's shortage of players.

"We don't mind roughness, but we don't want to initiate roughness," said Dopp, "I would like there to be no punching." Dopp said he envisions a situation in which the line can have full contact, "doing whatever you can to 'down' the player, but with no tackling or fists."

"We will reciprocate, and we can dish it out," Heckathorn said.

He did notice the stalwart playing skills of a female East Liverpool offensive player who was pummeled by two male Salemites simulataneously but shrugged it off. He also gave kudos to the East Liverpool team for providing flags, and for coming dressed in matching shirts.

To join the teams contact Alex Estell at destell@kent.edu for East Liverpool and Brad Heckathorn at bheckath@kent.edu for Salem. See below for score and snapshots.