Eric Perkins' Memory Lives On Through Annual Memorial Flag Football Tournament

It was a perfect day to play football.

Under a bright sunny sky and 50 degree weather, friends, family and football players convened at at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 26 to take part in the seventh annual Eric Perkins Memorial Flag Football Tournament.  

Eric Perkins graduated MHS in June of 2004. Sadly, just five months later, he was killed in an automobile accident on Thanksgiving. 

Joe Perkins, Eric's father, recalled that horrible day before explaining the message he wants to convey to all the young men that participate in this tournament in memory of his son. 

"It's all about decision making," Joe Perkins said. "Eric's life was taken due to bad decision making. Eric was the victim of a drunk driver and things like this tournament help us through. It helps a lot."

After Eric's death in 2004, his friends, Brad Garnett and Sheila Gill, along with Joe, Carol Perkins and son, Matt, created this tournament in his memory. 

They approached Medfield High School football coach Erik Ormberg to assist them and it has become an annual event. This year, the funds raised from the tournament will be split 50/50 between a scholarship for one high school senior football player and the Medfield High School football program.

Both Joe and Carol Perkins, Eric's parents, have been involved with this tournament since its inception and this year was no exception. As they stood on the sidelines watching the games, they spoke about how this tournament has evolved. 

The first few years they had auction items at the event in addition to the football games, but they have taken a small step back. Working on this event was difficult because it was extremely emotional. After a few years of holding this arduous event, they weren't sure if the community would want to continue it, especially if they scaled it back a bit and stopped the auction part. 

"But the kids wanted to keep doing it, and it's a way for them to get together.  They don't want to end it," said Carol Perkins. 

At the onset of the tournament, the players gathered at the 50 yardline and Ormberg thanked all of them for supporting this event and the family. 

He said there was a rumor going around that last year would be the last year of the tournament, but he wanted it to be known that "if you keep coming back to play, we'll keep this event going to honor Eric's name and the Perkins family."

Most players are either current Medfield High School students or MHS alumni, but one team was comprised of close friends of the Perkins family. Ormberg said that this event has become the place for these young men to reunite.

"This tournament is a competitive and communal alumni event married to a memorial event and it's a challenging time of year for the Perkins family," said Ormberg.

Garnett, in addition to being one of the initiators of this event, was a classmate of Eric's, and has played in this tournament each year. 

"It is good to get out and get together," he said. "It's nice to see everyone and we are blessed with this weather." 

The defending champion team, "Team Cataldo," is not a Medfield team, but a team made up of players from Walpole, Canton and Weston. 

Nick Cataldo, team captain, is a current Bowdoin College football player and was a childhood friend of Eric's. He remembers seeing him when their families would get together for Super Bowl parties. 

"I love him so much," Cataldo said. "I remember when it happened on Thanksgiving and I decided I would do whatever I could for this great cause. [This tournament] is a big part of what I do yearly." 

Cataldo's father, Mike "Catman" Cataldo, has been a friend of Joe Perkins for over 20 years. 

"Eric was happy-go-lucky," Mike Cataldo recalled. "He was a free spirit and a talented kid. I remember him always smiling." 

Mike Cataldo said his son, Nick, loves to play any kind of football, but loves participating in this tournament the most. He also gave credit to Eric for the good weather Saturday. 

"I believe in God and [Eric's] an angel," Mike Cataldo said.

As the teams played, the winning teams moved forward and the losing teams went home. The last two teams to compete for the championship were "Team Cataldo" and "Team Beau Nixon, Inc." 

It was a hard-fought battle, but last year's champions were defeated and Team Beau Nixon became the new champions.

The winning team is comprised of all college freshmen. They are: Chris DiPisa, Jimmy Butler, Jimmy Magrath, Mike Keleher, Beau Nixon and Peter Gill. These young men are home for their first college Thanksgiving break and are the same age that Eric was when he was killed in 2004. 

Each member of the winning team received a commerative hat and had a photo taken holding the Eric Perkins Memorial trophy.  It was a day to remember Eric's memory and to enjoy what he loved best ... playing football.