CANTON, Ohio — Flag football is one of the worlds fastest-growing sports for both men and women. In fact, the 2028 Summer Olympics will introduce the sport for the first time in Los Angeles.
In Canton, this coming weekend, a team of local youth players are ready to showcase their talent, representing the Cleveland Browns.
The North Lake Mafia are now wearing Browns jerseys after the 13u flag football team won a regional qualifier in Berea that earned them a bid to represent the Browns in the first-ever NFL Flag Football Championships at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. All 32 NFL teams will be represented in multiple age groups.
"It's exciting to represent not only the Browns, but our hometown and our home team and our schools and things like that," said head coach Kirk Tahsin. "The kids are fired up. They love the uniforms and representing Cleveland."
The team is made up of 8th graders from North Olmsted, Lakewood and Avon Lake. They have played with or against each other on the football field since 1st grade.
"It's a big deal, it's a big thing all coming out here to come together as one instead of playing against each, and we just want to get it done and see if we can win it all,” said wide receiver Wakely Casterline from Avon Lake.
Some of the action from Canton will be on televised nationally. The North Lake Mafia -- now called the Browns -- will have three games on Friday against the Titans, Broncos and Commanders. Bracket play will be on Saturday as they hope to play for a championship on Sunday.