Those students running around in jerseys on the field in front of the Campus Center on Nov. 20 were participating in the Turkey Bowl. It is a flag football competition organized as a fundraising effort by Casa Latina, UMass Boston’s center for Latino students. This year, the second year of the event’s existence, the football-shaped trophy was taken home by the team in yellow, Casa Latina’s NWO team.

Casa Latina’s assistant coordinator, Jason Garcia, organized the event. “It’s a new tradition we thought it would be fun to start here at UMass,” he said. Garcia was excited about student turnout. “We got a good mix of people. We got some people from BSC [the Black Student Center] and some athletes just from the school that thought it would be fun to join in.”

There were also a few players who had never heard of the event until that day. “People see people playing football and they want to go over there and ask what’s going on,” he explained.

Rick Sledzik, UMass Boston’s Intramural and Recreation Department program manager, kept score. His department also provided jerseys, cones, flags and referees. “This is great for the students, good for the university community. It’s really nice to have all the students come out here and take part.”

Bianca Bequer, a biochemistry major and a member of Casa Latina, couldn’t be in the game because she was busy when it began, but she ran down to the field as soon as she was free. “I’m here to support those who actually could play,” she said.

Bequer was quick to point out her fellow students from Casa Latina on the field. “They’re trying their best to make sure that Turkey Bowl trophy stays within the club,” she said.