Guns and Hoses, part two

Last year, the Heat walked away with a 26-15 win in the first ever Guns and Hoses football game.

This year, The Enforcers changed their name to the Lawdogs and are confident they can bring the Guns and Hoses trophy back to the police station.

"They are pretty excited and talking it up pretty good," said Tom Taylor, assistant Chief of Operations and player on the Heat. "I did predict a 24-0 victory."

Joe Kriete, detective for the Grant County Sheriff's department, already picked a winner.

"The Lawdogs, the cops are going to win," he said. "For the most part, this is a fun game and not the win or loss of it, but to benefit the community."

As a charity event, the first Guns and Hoses football game proceeds bought two defibulators for Samaritan Health Foundation. This year, it has been broken up between the Foundation and camps for kids during the summer.

The change in charity work, according to Kriete was just one of many this year.

"This year we had more time to be prepared," Kriete said. "Each year we hope this gets bigger in the community and get people a little more involved. We may even change charities next year to benefit other people."

After playing in a cold and damp Saturday afternoon, the game was changed to Friday night, hoping to get better weather and a better crowd.

Taylor called this a high school football community, "compare it to a Chiefs football game."

"It is a really good atmosphere for Friday night football," Kriete added.

The game is scheduled for Friday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $5 per person.

The rules are different than your ordinary high school game with kickoffs and punt returns downed upon possession of the ball. There is no blitzing, no punt blocks and only down linemen can blitz on field goals.

The quarters will be eight minutes long with a 25 second play clock. With players ranging from 30 to 50 years old on both sides of the ball, Taylor said players have to return to work that night and the next day.

Tickets are still available by calling Taylor at 765-2204 or Lawdogs coach Greg Kittrell at 766-2666.