This past Saturday, March 27th was a cold day.  It was Chicago football weather.  Two semi-pro Chicago football teams played at St. Xavier University on Chicago’s southside in a scrimmage.

The Chicago Falcons are a semi-pro football team that plays in the Great Midwest Football League.  The Falcons and all the GMFL teams are made up of talented young football players that are trying to have fun, and would like a chance to play in the NFL.  The GMFL is a league that takes football very seriously, and these kids are conditioned athletes that are very impressive.  Please visit the Chicago Falcons website to stay on top of their schedule.

The Chicago Blaze are obviously our team, made up of Chicago firefighters and paramedics that play in the National Public Safety Football League. The NPSFL is a league of public safety professionals that play football for the love and passion of the game, and for charities.

Charlie Bliss of the Offense Coordinator of the Blaze

The cold day was warmed up by some great football.  Although each team was playing it’s first scrimmage, they both wanted to perform well.  The Chicago Blaze, led by an explosive offense engineered by Charlie Bliss and John Manchester defeated the Chicago Falcons, 38-20.

An offense created by John Manchester and Charlie Bliss is not easily defended, especially if you have a gunslinger like John Welsh.  John Welsh is a former college football quarterback and leader of the Idaho Vandals.  John Welsh is now a Chicago firefighter.  John has plenty of targets on the Blaze, like Leo Roman, Ryan Antonik, Ray Culler and former Lane Tech star Jesse Estrada.

John Welsh, Idaho Quarterback, Idaho vs Washington

I was able to get a quick recap from Blaze Head Coach Ronnie Michi on Monday morning.  We were working a fire on Belmont and Leavitt.  Jesse Estrada was also working that day, and was on Engine 56, the first arriving company at the Cakegirls Bakery fire.  The Cakegirls Bakery caught fire, and we were dispatched at 5:16 am.  We pray the bakery can rebuild, and the displaced residents can recover.  Fortunately there were no injuries at the fire.

After the fire, Coach Ronnie Michi, who is the Lieutenant of Tower Ladder 21 told us, “I am impressed by the Chicago Falcons.  They are a fast, tough team.  I am happy our team, the Blaze has learned the plays, and are getting into football shape.  The scrimmage was fun, and the Falcons and the Blaze identified areas that we each need to improve in.  Those GMFL teams look tough, and are worth watching when they have local games.”

Coach Michi also mentioned “our kicking game needs improvement.”

We are looking forward to the Chicago Blaze playing the Chicago police department football team, the CPD Enforcers on April 10th, 2010 at Brother Rice.