My City July 2021

MYSPORTS

Flint Fury are Ready to Win BY MARK SPEZIA PHOTOS BY TIM JAGIELO

At Beecher High School, Ja’Kobe Derricks was a fleet-footed, sure-handed defensive back who gave opposing offenses nightmares. His gridiron skills made Derricks an All-Stater. His feet carried him to a 100-meter dash state champi onship, running a time (10.78 seconds) bettered by only five others in Genesee County history. Nearly three years after last suiting up for the Buccaneers, Der ricks found himself longing to again experience the full-contact competition and camaraderie football offers. The Flint Fury semipro team, which has been providing such an outlet for those like Derricks for almost two decades, was the perfect solution. He is one of roughly 50 players from 17 to 41 years of age who love taking brief

respites from jobs and other responsi bilities of life to don helmets and pads and test themselves against opposing Midwest Elite Football Alliance squads. “From the time I was first intro duced to the team, I could tell how good of an atmosphere being part of the Fury allows you to be in,” Derricks says. “We have a great mix of players – younger guys like myself and older guys who have been with the team a while both charging each other up. It’s a great family-type atmosphere.” Like many of his teammates, Derricks discovered that being part of Fury has done more than scratch his football itch. The 20-year-old is also bettering his life.

AND PROVIDED BY FLINT FURY

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