Alumni football becomes family affair

CEDAR RAPIDS - Football proved to be a family affair once again for a few former players.

Ashton and Cody Northern each took turns as standouts for the Cedar Rapids Jefferson football team in the past. Mike and Will Morio earned honors as Cedar Rapids Kennedy linebackers. Then there were Gary Albaugh, his son, Troy and nephew, Brent Albaugh, who all donned the Marion Indian jersey.

They were able to play side-by-side for their respective alma maters in an Alumni Football USA double-header Saturday night at Kingston Stadium. Marion and Linn-Mar renewed an old rivalry to kick-off the event that ended in the Lions 28-12 win and capped by Cedar Rapids Kennedy's 17-13 grudge match win over Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

Cody Northern, a senior in 2008, never played competitively with his older brother, who was a 2003 Jefferson graduate. He idolized his older brother, hoping to play with him in the future. He finally got his special opportunity thanks to the alumni games.

“It's a dream come true,” said Cody Northern, a junior-to-be at Upper Iowa who played football for the Peacocks for two seasons. “Growing up and watching him play, one day I wanted to play with him.”

Ashton, who played at Coe, was hesitant at sign up at first. He saw the for J-Hawk players that were being assembled, in addition to playing with his brother, and joined. It is the only competition, outside of fast-pitch softball, they have played together.

“Cody was on board right away,” Ashton Northern said. “I didn't know who all was playing in it. I had no clue, but once I saw the group of guys we had together I was definitely on board.

“The opportunity to play with my brother peaked my interest.”

It turned out to be an extension of the backyard and sandlot games they played when they were younger.

“We had a lot of football in the backyard,” Ashton Northern said. “It was always fun because we were always on different teams, trying to be our favorite athletes. It's a lot different playing with him now, because we were always so competitive against each other.”

They were also joined by their dad, Fred Northern, who patrolled the sidelines as a J-Hawk coach Saturday night. Northern, who has been heavily involved in area sports, has coached at all levels of football and was a popular choice fo the players when they considered a coach.

“That was the ultimate respect for my dad,” Ashton Northern said. “All that he's done throughout the community, in Metro Football and the Jefferson district, that was gratifying.”

The venue added some sentimental value to the return to the glory days of prep play. Kingston Stadium is the home field for both Jefferson and Kennedy, but it resides in the southwest quadrant, sitting in Jefferson High School's shadow.

“This feels like home,” said Northern, noting the only thing missing was the "Band of Blue" which is the J-Hawks' high school marching band. “Just having it at Kingston is even greater.”

Mike and Will Morio were all-state linebackers a couple years apart for the Cougars. Mike Morio graduated in 2006, while Will was in the Class of 2008. Like the Northerns, this was a chance for them to compete together in the green-and-gold.

"It's pretty exciting," Will Morio said. "Having the chance to put on the pads and do battle was something we never thought was possible."

The two prepared together, leading up to the contest. They lifted and ran. They still own some pads from their prep days and put them on to get some hitting in, according to Will Morio. They were excited from the moment they heard about the games from a mutual friend.

"It was both of us," Will Morio said about whose idea it was to play. "We didn't think twice."

The Morios' Cougars held the advantage over the Northerns' J-Hawks at halftime. Timmy Johnson, who also garbbed an interception on Jefferson's final drive to ice the game, ran the opening kickoff back for a Cougar touchdown and 7-0 lead. A 40-yard Kennedy field goal by Austin Ha made it 10-0, but the J-Hawks climbed within 10-6 at halftime with a 2-yard TD run by Jeremy Brown in the second quarter.

Kennedy added a short TD run in the third to go up, 17-6. J-Hawks quarterback Blake Tiedtke, who played college football at Nebraska, hit Zac Hornung for a 54-yard TD bomb to shrink Kennedy's lead to 17-13.

The oldest competitor on the Kingston turf  had some reservations, but 55-year-old Gary Albaugh took the field for Marion. He graduated from Marion in 1974, long before many of the other players were born. He was used sparingly, playing  on the kickoff and kickoff return squads.

“It was super,” Gary Albaugh. “It was very, very enjoyable.”

Albaugh recalled playing in his final prep game. It was a home game against Independence. He recalled how tough it was to walk away from the game then and that persuaded him to participate with his son and nephew. The games gave more than 100 players a chance to dress in pads again.

“When they contacted me, at first I wasn't going to do it,” Gary Albaugh said. “Then I thought putting the pads on would be great.

“No player likes to turn in their football pads when it is all over."

Albaugh said he enjoyed working with the players on the team, and being a part of Marion's strong football tradition again. His body took a beating, but he felt ready for Saturday.

“My battle was practice,” Gary Albaugh said. “Every night I went home something else hurt.

“First it was the quads, then it was a hamstring and then my knee hurt a little bit. I felt great today. Game day I was ready to go.”

Brent Albaugh, the older brother of Marion multi-sport standout Dusty Albaugh who graduated this spring and will attend Iowa State in the fall, looked to add to the family numbers in the game. Dusty Albaugh declined to play because of his inclusion in the Shrine Bowl, a prep all-star game coming up.

He enjoyed being a part of the competition, which ended with handshakes, pictures with competing teams and even group prayers.

“It was great,” Brent Albaugh said. “Playing linebacker and hitting people. I started playing both ways but I had to choose one.”

He praised his uncle for his effort. Gary Albaugh is an inspiration for many aging athletes.

“It's awesome,” Brent Albaugh said. “He's 55 years old and still out there.”

Linn-Mar struck for three touchdowns in the third quarter to take the lead, including a long touchdown run by Caleb Vogel that gave the Lions the lead. The Lions also received an 8-yard touchdown pass from Matt Greer to Bryce Peterson. Pat Stalkfleet opened the scoring with a 10-yard TD run for Marion and then hit hit Trent Fish for a 12-yard TD pass to give Marion a 12-7 lead at halftime.

Alumni Football USA hosts games all around the country. In addition to Saturday night's games, Vinton-Shellsburg and Center Point-Urbana and North Cedar and Tipton also played. The hope is to have more games within the state, including more schools. Alumni Football USA team Coordinator Jason Chance estimated the crowd at a little more than 2,000 Saturday.

"I'm pretty happy with the turnout," Chance said. "We're hoping it is bigger next year."

They are looking to expand into the Waterloo and Iowa City areas.

"The Metro teams will be at it next year," Chance said. "We're going to have to find them teams to play."

Will Morio said he has an interest in future games, and assumes his brother does as well.

"If it comes along next year I think we would play," Will Morio said. "I definitely would be ready to go next year."