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Sports

DC Generals Find New Home in Falls Church

Charity police and football team kicks off 2011 season at George Mason High School

The DC Generals, Washington’s police and fire charity football team, suited up on Saturday for their first game of the season and their first at their new home field. George Mason High School will host every 2011 home game for the Generals, members of the National Public Safety Football League.

While the Generals lost the game to the Los Angeles Heat, 13-12, first year head coach Mike Weller was pleased with his team’s effort.

“We’re going in the right direction. I’m excited about where we’re going,” Weller said. “This is the first year we’ve had a good core of guys out there constantly.”

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Carlton Barnes of Fairfax County Fire returned an interception to stake the Generals to a 6-0 advantage, and Jimmy Taylor of Alexandria County Fire added a pretty touchdown pass in the second quarter to put DC up 12-0. The Heat responded with 13 unanswered points in the second half though, as the Generals had trouble maintaining the same smooth offense over the final 30 minutes.

“Bottom line was they made better adjustments in the second half,” Weller said. “I think we may have out-coached ourselves in the second half.”

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In the months leading up to the 2011 season, the Generals fifth in the NPSFL, the team had struggled to find a home field. Finally, just over a week before the opener, the Generals and George Mason High School worked out a deal.

“They opened up the doors, and we’re excited about being here,” Weller said.

The Generals draw members from 19 agencies in the Washington metropolitan area, including Fairfax and Arlington Counties. While the players remain committed to full-time careers in law enforcement and fire and emergency medical services, they also volunteer their time to compete at the semi-pro level, with all proceeds going to the Washington chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors, a charity that aids families of fallen officers, and the D.C. Firefighters Burn Foundation.

According to the team website, the Generals “are committed to a three-pronged team mission. First and foremost, as a charitable fundraiser, the team is committed to raising money in support of the selected charities and spreading awareness of their mission. Secondly, as public servants the DC Generals are dedicated to the community they serve, helping at community events, participating in youth education and much more. Last and certainly not least, the DC Generals strive to compete at the highest athletic level possible and represent the Washington Metro area in the National Public Safety Football League in a winning fashion.”

The Generals will head to Houston and Philadelphia to fill out the rest of April before returning to Falls Church for home contests with Atlanta on May 14 and Roanoke on June 4. Both those games will start at 7 p.m., and a $5 donation is asked with admission.

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