Rosemont Flag Footballers Third in Nation

The Southgate Raiders, a flag football team made mostly of teens from Rosemont, has come out of a national tournament with a top-five finish.

The team finished last month's NFL Flag Football national tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in third place, coach Rafael Enriquez said.

"Overall, it was a fun trip," Enriquez said. "They made it fun."

He said although the players spent more time this year thinking about their upcoming games––they still had time to make friends.

"I told them they had to make the most friends," he said. "When the Saints won it (the national title), they called our team up to the podium because they were such buddies of ours."

This year's tournament was also unique because of its weather.

"It was freezing (during) the first three games," Enriquez said. "I attribute that to our slow start."

Of the team's nine players, six live in Rosemont and three live in West Sacramento. Many were returning players, but because of age limits only one Rosemont player can play again next year, Enriquez said.

"Four or five [of them] are going to be playing for " next year, he said.