CFL just a week from kickoff

With both the National Football League and the college ranks already into the regular season, the CNMI is bracing for next weekend’s kickoff of the Commonwealth Football League.

Board members, team representatives, and players met on Tuesday night at the local VFW Post on Beach Road to discuss some of the last minute issues that might hamper the start of the fifth year of sacks on Saipan.

Only eight days separate the monsters of the Marianas from the 100-yard battlefield, and organizers are just as serious about the paperwork as the coaches are about the foot work. According to board secretary Ester Milne, all team representatives are required to attend next Tuesday’s meeting to turn in their squad’s roster, waivers, and proof of insurance along with the all important registration fees at the VFW Post on Beach Road, at 6pm.

The season gets underway on Saturday, Sept. 24, when the Typhoon travel to Saipan for the opener against the Barbarians at 10am, followed by the afternoon game between the Lightning and the Eagles. The board of directors agreed that the Tinian team will play in the early game during all double-header dates to allow for them to make the ferry trip, as they will the following week when they try to shock the Lightning on Saturday, Oct. 1. The Eagles and Barbarians play the late game at 1pm, but the Eagles soar over to their first away game when they face the Typhoon under the lights at 7pm in Tinian on Saturday, Oct. 8, while the Lightning and Barbarians rest until their contest on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 1pm on Saipan.

The double-header schedule continues on Saturday, Oct. 22 when the Tinian plays a home game in name only when they host the Barbarians on the CPA Airport Field at 10am before the Lightning and the Eagles battle at 1pm.

All four teams return to Saipan on Saturday, Oct. 29, as the Eagles get to host the Typhoon at 10am followed by the Barbarians and the Lightning at 1pm, but the CFL will break for a bye on Election Day on Saturday, Nov. 5.

A week after casting their ballots, the Lightning will cast off toward Tinian to engage the Typhoon on Saturday, Nov. 12, at pm, and the Barbarians battle the Eagles in the season finale on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 10am.

The playoffs are slated for Saturday, Nov. 26, when the second and third place finishers vie for a chance with the top dog at 10am, and the new king of the CFL will be crowned on Saturday, Dec. 3, following the 10am championship.