His love for the game inspired junior Matthew Rowe to create his own football league: the Backyard Football League.

“I started it because I love the game of football and there isn’t a need for coaches; it’s just a fun and intense football league,” Rowe said.

There are 12 teams from six high schools involving kids from all over Lake County. The teams compete in the front-yard division and the backyard division.

“We have specific rules for drafting team members,” Rowe said. “Only two seniors and a max of eight people per team.”

Each game is played five-on-five and are held at the Lakes practice fields. The teams are randomly selected from each division for who will play against each other each week.

This year, the winning BFL team wins $960 to split among all players, as well as bragging rights until next season.