By Ray Hamill — The newly-formed Humboldt Flag Football league will begin play this week for players in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The NFL-backed league will feature 14 teams, with games taking place over the next two months at various locations around the county.

Opening day is set for Saturday and will take place at Hiller Park in McKinleyville, with seven games scheduled.

According to league founder Matt Smith-Caggiano, the league has “received a lot of good input and are hearing excitement around the community.”

The new league will be split into three age groups, one each for K-to-first grade, second through fourth grade and fifth through eight grade.

Smith-Caggiano is hoping to add high-school aged and adult teams for the 2025 season.

Assessments for the players were held last month and first team practices took place last week.

The K-to-first grade division will include four teams — The Macktown Panthers, Arcata Bengals, Eureka Raiders and Fortuna 49ers.

The second-to-fourth grade division will include six teams — The Macktown Panthers, Arcata Bengals, Arcata Eagles, Eureka Raiders, Eureka Vikings and Fortuna 49ers.

And the fifth-to-eighth grade division will include four teams — The Macktown Panthers, Arcata Bengals, Arcata Eagles and Eureka Raiders.

According to Smith-Caggiano, the league will still take some late registrations for players who have not yet registered and is also looking for some more coaches and officials, if anyone is interested in helping out.

Saturday’s schedule of games will kick off at 10 a.m.

In addition to Hiller Park in McKinleyville, games will also take place at Carson Park in Eureka and at Newburg Park in Fortuna.

The regular season will run through the weekend of July 27, with the playoffs opening the following weekend at Hiller Park.

The championship games will take place on Aug. 10 at Hiller Park.

For more information, visit the Humboldt Flag Football website.