Law enforcement football teams from Cape Girardeau County, Springfield face off to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters

Enforcers quarterback Richard Pipkin is tackled by the Guns' Ben Haines. (FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The 4th annual Battle of the Badges law enforcement charity football game, held Saturday afternoon at Houck Stadium, raised $2,442 to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri.

Overcast skies and occasional light rain didn't seem to have much affect on attendance for the game, which sold about 600 tickets, according to stadium staff.

The game, last held in 2001, pits members of law enforcement from five different agencies in Cape Girardeau County against the Springfield Police Department, known as the Springfield Guns.

The Cape Girardeau County Enforcers team is made up of officers from Cape Girardeau and Jackson Police Departments, Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department, Southeast Missouri State University Department of Public Safety and Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Springfield won the game 20 to 6, scoring a touchdown and two-point conversion with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, meaning it has won all four games when the teams have met.

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder tosses the coin which the Springfield Guns called and chose to defer in the benefit game with the Cape County Enforcers Saturday at Houck Stadium. (FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The game is played without kickoff or punt returns to minimize injuries to the players, and there were no opportunities to kick extra points, but all other regulation high school rules applied.

In the past, proceeds from the game have gone to other charities, but this year Cape Girardeau officer Joey Hann, a volunteer Big Brother with the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters, recommended the program, said Ellen Carlson, director of development for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Fundraisers like the charity game are "vital" for the survival of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, Carlson said.

"It costs $1,200 to match a child with a volunteer," Carlson said.

There are more than 200 area children on the waiting list to be matched with a volunteer, Carlson said.

The money goes toward recruiting new volunteers, screening and background checks, and making resources available to do routine checks with children and parents, Carlson said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

388-3635

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