Recreation League Football Playoffs Together with a Toy Drive for Charity

Football (Photo credit: The Malones)

Are you ready for some football?

It is time for Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks youth football league playoffs. Many of the games will be played in South County, either at South River High School or Southern High. Previously, games were played on home fields of the rec league, but both Edgewater Park and Davidsonville Park are soggy, so the games are a go on turf.

The games will be played over the next three weekends in a round-robin style series.

That is good for the players, but not so great for what South River Youth Athletics organizers had planned. They are working with the Woodland Beach Volunteer Fire Department to help with the “Santa Run” toy drive. Each year, the volunteer firefighters go from neighborhood to neighborhood to collect toys for disadvantaged youth right here in Anne Arundel County. Of course as they drive around on fire trucks with the sirens blaring, Santa is on board to shake hands, give hugs and hand out candy canes. It is a beloved tradition in many Edgewater neighborhoods.

SRYA’s fundraising chair, Melissia Stevens, said that SRYA parents and players wanted to give back to the community in some way and thought that since the holidays are fast approaching, it would be a great time to help out with the fire company’s toy drive. Stevens spoke with Woodland Beach VFD Chief Bobby Howlin and got the OK. Now they are urging participants and players to bring to any (or each) game a wrapped toy or gift to donate (please mark the appropriate age, gender and size on the package).

Chief Howlin told Stevens that at the first game, the volunteer firefighters would bring the ladder truck and raise the ladder and American flag before the game. From there, Stevens would collect the toys at each game and drop them off with the fire company to distribute. Over the next three weekends of playoffs, they were hoping to make plenty of collections to contribute to the Santa Run.

Unfortunately, the change in game venue due to Hurricane Sandy and the soggy home fields means that the ladder truck and flag raising can’t happen (trucks not allowed onto the turf field or track).

Stevens, however, is undeterred. She said that the toy drive will go on.

“Our goal is to fill a pickup truck with toys,” Stevens said.

So if you plan on attending any of the playoff games this weekend, bring a toy or gift for a girl or a boy. Wrap it up and help to make some young person’s Christmas a little brighter.

Here is the football playoff schedule for this weekend. Drop off toys at any SRYA game.

South River Youth Athletics

• 12 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 3) SRYA vs. Bucs in Varsity U at South River High School.
• 1:30 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 3) SRYA (#1 seed) vs. Bucs in 100 lb. National at South River High School
• 3 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 3) SRYA vs. Chesapeake Bay in 100 lb. Central at South River High School
• 12 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 4) SRYA vs. Panthers in 70 lb. National at South River High School
• 1:30 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 4) SRYA vs. Severna Park in 12U American at Southern High School
• 6 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 4) SRYA vs. Cape Claire II in 12U at South River High School

Davidsonville Athletic Association

• 10:30 a.m. Saturday (Nov. 3) Gators vs. GORC in 90 lb. National at South River High School
• 3 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 3) Gators vs. Chargers in 11U at South River High School

South County Youth Athletics (Southern)

• 12 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 3) Southern vs. Chesapeake Bay in 11U National at Southern High School
• 3 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 4) Southern vs. Chesapeake Bay in Varsity U at Southern High School

Aside from the toy drive, Stevens will also be running a 50/50 raffle at each game and a silent auction with some pretty good local deals. If you have questions or would like to donate a gift but can’t attend the game, please email Melissia Stevens,

Not all games are included above. There are games being played in Severna Park and Glen Burnie. Check here for the full county schedule.