After years of playing together, the Rattlesnakes competed in the Flag Football World Championship in Orlando, Florida, in Florida.
The tournament will featured teams from across the country and around the world, and games will be streamed on ESPN+.
The Rattlesnakes won league championships in 2024 and 2025 before losing in the championship game this year. The team has been playing together since 2021, and this is the first time the group has qualified for the ESPN World Championship together.
The roster is made up of high school players between the ages of 14 and 17. Players on the team are from Amesbury, Salisbury, and Lawrence.
Quarterback Dempsey Spring said the team is looking forward to the opportunity.
“It’s a big deal for us,” Spring said. “We’ve been playing together for a long time, so it’s cool that we get to play teams from different places.”
Wide receiver Robbie Merrill, who has played in the tournament before, said he knows what the team needs to do.
“It’s definitely tougher than regular games,” Merrill said. “You just have to stay focused and do your job.”
Assistant coach Andrew Baker, a student at Northern Essex Community College, said the team’s experience together has helped them grow.
“They’ve been playing with each other for years,” Baker said. “They understand how each other play, and that helps a lot.”
The Rattlesnakes began with seeding games Feb. 19 against teams from Florida, New Jersey, Montreal and Panama. The knockout round of the tournament begins Feb. 21.
Several skill position players are expected to make an impact.
Spring leads the offense at quarterback.
Wide receivers Robbie Merrill, Nate Oliva, Hayden Lowell and Zach Stanganelli provide key targets. Oliva was named the 2025 league MVP. Manuel Mesis plays multiple roles at running back, quarterback and wide receiver. Shawn Asselin contributes at both running back and wide receiver.
The team will look to compete against top opponents as it takes part in the tournament for the first time as a group.
Editor’s Note: NECC student Ethan Lowell is also one of the coaches of this team.
