Too much like real football?

Carlmont head coach Oscar Fabic, who has thoroughly embraced the sport of flag football and developed the Scots into one of the elite teams in the CCS, said prior to the start of the season that, with the rules changes, the game would look more like real football.

Gone were “no-run zones,” as well as running restrictions on quarterbacks. But the big change came on defense, where rushers now got to line up 1-yard off the line of scrimmage, instead of 7 yards, which was previously used.

That, along with players getting bigger, faster, stronger and more familiar with the game, has led to an increase in physical play.

Maybe the sport had become too much like real football. Fabic said he saw a more direct style of play, instead of one of avoidance.

“Even before the new rules, flag football administrators and rules makers called it a, ‘no-contact, contact sport,’” Fabic said. “And it’s even more so now. And I think it will continue to be that way.”

In previous seasons, ball carriers would try to avoid defenders. Now, they take them on. Good defenders, meanwhile, have adopted a basketball mentality of seeking offensive charges from ball carriers. And much like a basketball defender, a defender in flag football has to establish position to draw the charge, or be in position to pull the flag. It is the responsibility of the ball carrier to avoid the defensive player.

“As teams get better and better, I think the technique gets better,” Fabic said. “You have players not chasing flags, but getting in position to take a charge. To do well against the best teams, you have to be courageous enough to get in position.”

While I’ve noticed a general increase in the number of collisions during games this season, it seemed to come to a head during Monday’s Peninsula Athletic League showdown between Carlmont and Menlo-Atherton, in what was essentially a game for the Bay Division championship.

There were a half dozen penalties for “illegal contact” in the game, which could be either of two players colliding or simply what is called “excessive contact.”

And there was plenty of that between the Bears and Scots. It was so physical, I thought to myself at one point, “May as well pad these kids up and give them helmets because this is real football.”

Granted, the Scots-Bears matchup was between two elite teams who were essentially playing for a division title. The game got chippy at times as it was clear both teams were extremely competitive and wanted to win the game badly.

Which resulted in elation on the M-A sideline and tears from the Scots following the Bears’ 19-18, overtime win.

But Fabic believes the officials have done a good job in letting the game flow and not get too flag happy.

“The refs have done a good job of nipping (the physicality) in the bud. But at the same time, they’re letting it play,” Fabic said. “As physical as it gets, they’ve done a good of keeping it within the right kind of physical play for flag football.”

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After now nearly three seasons of flag football, the first-ever CCS playoffs are scheduled for the first time this year.

The playoffs will feature four divisions of eight teams, with the top eight going into the Open Division, regardless of enrollment. Divisions I through III will be based on enrollment.

The PAL will get four automatic qualifiers: the top three from the Bay Division and the Open Division champ. Of the 32 teams selected, only seven will be at-large teams. Brackets will be filled at the seeding meeting Oct. 30, with first-round game scheduled for Monday, Nov. 3 and the finals Saturday, Nov. 8.

Nathan Mollat has been covering high school sports in San Mateo County for the San Mateo Daily Journal. since 2001. He can be reached by email: nathan@smdailyjournal.com.