The Picayune Police Department is rallying behind our state championship football team to assist in the purchase of championship rings by organizing a flag football tournament, which will be held on Feb. 8 at the Picayune Memorial High School stadium.

Deputy Chief Chad Dorn said that after the championship game, he and other officers got together and talked about what they could do to help the Touch Down Club purchase rings for the players.

“The department came up with doing the flag football tournament. It is our way of showing support and giving back to the kids. It will be called the Maroon Tide Victory Bowl,” Dorn said. “It will be a seven on seven flag football tournament on Feb. 8, 2014. It is tentatively set to start at 8 a.m. that Saturday morning.

“We are actively seeking entrants and looking forward to a wonderful day of fun which will ultimately result in supporting a worthy cause and bragging rights for the winning entrants.”

Dorn said that registration is $200 per team. Each team is allowed up to 14 players and it will be double elimination, so teams have to lose twice to get kicked out. The winning team will ultimately win their entry fee back plus a trophy.

“We hope to have the concessions stands open serving hamburgers, hotdogs, cold drinks and maybe Funyuns,” he said. “We want to invite the public out to watch the games, the entry-fee will be by donation only.”

Dorn said the department hopes to have a good turnout so they can move forward in making this an annual event to support the Touchdown Club.

Touchdown Club President Sandy Kane Smith said that Dorn, and other team parents like him; make a big difference in the lives of the young men on the team. “I’m so glad that people are coming forward to support the team and help with these rings,” Smith said. “Apparel sales are not going to carry this burden alone.  We need people with plans, like Chad Dorn and the Picayune Police Department, who can step up to help, to come forward and work with us to get it done.

“The thing is, we have only so much funds in our account and if we clean it out to buy the rings we won’t have funds left for the start of next season. We not only need to reach our goal but we must do it without totally depleting funds that are consistently needed. “

Smith encouraged anyone interested in helping the team fund their rings to contact him and give him their ideas.

“I am so glad that someone is stepping up to help us do this,” Smith said. “I encourage everyone to come out for the Maroon Tide Bowl and wear your Tide colors that you purchased through fund raiser.”

Smith will be placing another order for apparel in two weeks. Order forms are available at http://www.maroontide.com/fb2013_StateChampApparel.htm.

“There will be registration deadline of Jan. 24,” Dorn said. “Two weeks prior to the tournament we will end registration, this will allow us to get the brackets put together.”

To either register or to obtain more information, contact Deputy Chief Chad Dorn at 601-337-4182.