Four Bobcats play along with NFL stars

The Saddleback football program was back in the news this weekend when a handful of current, former and future NFL stars collected for a celebrity flag football tournament inside the Saddleback stadium.  Four players from the Saddleback program were asked to participate in the event run by RX3 Growth Partners, which hosts the charity game annually and this season requested to play in the new stadium on campus.

Saddleback had four players that participated as Simeon Marton, Zachary Roebuck, Darius Maxwell and Will Craven played in the event.  Marton, Roebuck and Maxwell were a part of Team Leinart, quarterbacked by former Heisman Trophy winner and former seven-year NFL veteran Matt Leinart.  Craven was a part of team Rodgers, quarterbacked by current NFL star Aaron Rodgers. 

The event had 10 teams, all led by former, current or future NFL quarterbacks.  Among the current stars in the league were Rodgers, Josh Allen, Kyle Allen, Desmond Ridder, Jared Goff and Sam Darnold.  Leinart was the lone former quarterback while the game also had three players expected to be drafted high in the upcoming NFL Draft in UCLA's Dorian Thompson-Robinson, TCU's Max Duggan and Kentucky's Will Levi. 

The tournament was won by Team Leinart, who defeated Team Thompson-Robinson in the finals, 23-20.  Saddleback's own Simeon Marton was named the tournament MVP following the event.  

Other players that participated in the event included Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown, 11-year veteran cornerback Josh Norman and former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens. 

The event was emceed by Jordan Palmar and Brandon Marshall.  Palmer played in five games for the Bengals and Titans from 2008-2014 and Marshall played for 13 seasons (2006-18) with the Broncos, Dolphins, Bears, Jets and Seahawks.  Marshall also put on a jersey towards the end of the day for one of the teams.

Saddleback player Simeon Marton recently committed to Chadron State College.  He led the Bobcats with 27 receptions this past season, totaling 234 yards receiving.  He also returned eight punts for the year on special teams.  Following the season, Marton was named to the All-National Division Southern League Team as a punt-return specialist.

Zachary Roebuck was a two-year starter at Saddleback, playing in 19 games for the Bobcats.  He had 44 receptions for 386 yards and four scores in his two seasons.

Darius Maxwell played for Saddleback in 2021, catching 12 balls for 240 yards and two scores.  He then committed to Wheeling University, but has since returned to the program. 

Will Craven was a redshirt this past season after playing high school football at Dana Hills High School.

In addition to the flag football games, the event also had autograph opportunities, artwork and local food vendors. 

 Flag Football Tournament Images Gallery