Pride in the huddle
Local semi-pro football is making a difference on and off gridiron
Ricky Jimenez describes his experience on the football field as a “car crash each play.” And he should. Standing 6’0” and weighing 265 lbs., the defensive lineman battles in the trenches weekly for the Des Moines Blaze, a semi-professional football team in the metro.
“I’m at peace when I’m out there playing,” said Jimenez, who has been playing in Des Moines for three years. “We don’t just play to play, but play to be the best, and we take pride in what we do.”
In a city filled with a mixture of football teams, it may be easy to get lost in the shuffle. But visit a Blaze practice, game or community event, and the pride is evident within the 55-man roster. As a nonprofit semi-professional football team, the Blaze is currently 5-1 and atop the Heartland Division. The team’s five wins have been by more than 35 points per game.
“The season is going great right now,” said Randy Blackford, wide receiver for the Blaze. “We have a lot more depth right now, and our sights are on the playoffs and beyond.”
In its inaugural season, the Blaze has already overcome a lot. Many of the players have been retained from the Iowa Lightning, which went 20-4 over the past two seasons.
“We’re improving each week,” said Nick Cicero, assistant head coach. “We have a lot of new players, but one of our biggest strengths is our leadership. We have strong leaders from our coaching staff down to our players, which has translated to all of our wins.”
The Blaze’s success on the field is nothing compared to the contributions made off it. The team has been actively involved with many community events, reaching out to those in need. Most recently, in its June 5 win over the Capital City Crush (72-6), the team hosted “Kid’s Day” in an effort to help raise awareness for children’s cancer. The Blaze teamed up with the American Cancer Society and the American Brain Tumor Association to provide information on cancer. Nine-year-old Oliver Palmer, who was diagnosed with Pontine Glioma or Pediatric Brainstem Cancer, was the honorary captain for the day.
“We have some really good guys on the team,” Jimenez said. “We like to show it — we’re not just another team. We all have philanthropic interests, and we hope our efforts can touch people’s lives.”
For Jimenez, the team’s charitable effort can be felt internationally. A few months ago, the 31-year-old Puerto Rico native coordinated an all-ages concert at the Vaudeville Mews. Proceeds benefited the Meals from the Heartland to help provide meals to those affected by the January earthquakes in Haiti. Last year, more than 15,000 volunteers from across the state gathered 4,019,904 meals and sent them to malnourished children and families living in Haiti, Jamaica, South Africa, Nigeria, Mexico and Israel.
“The disaster is really close to my heart,” Jimenez said. “It’s the least we can do to help out.”
Cicero has also noticed the team’s hospitality toward others.
“It’s important for the team to get involved in efforts like this to get them to notice that there’s more to life than just football,” he said. “Real world events impact players on our team.”
On June 19, the Iowa Blaze will host the Iowa Threshers in “The Goodwill Game.” The team will be receiving goodwill items (canned food items, clothing and monetary donations) to be given to Goodwill.
“It feels good to be a mentor and to take part in something so positive,” Blackford said. “We can make a difference while still enjoying the sport that we each love.” CV
Caption: Des Moines Blaze quarterback DeMareo Darrah ran for two touchdowns and passed for another in the 72-6 win over the Capital City Crush on June 5. Photo courtesy of Des Moines Blaze
