Thursday, Sept. 25, officially marked the beginning of the Intramural flag-football season, although games were originally scheduled to begin the preceding Wednesday.

Participation in the events has seen a dramatic increase over the past several years, with nearly 50 different teams signed up to play, leading to the development of six divisions, including a Jack and Jill league, a Ladies league, a Talon league, a Fraternity league and a Claw league consisting of two different divisions, the Elite 8 and the Pac 9.

As of this Monday, only three games had been played in the Fraternity division. The brothers of Kappa Alpha Order walked all over both SigEp and AGR, winning concisive victories, while Pike defeated PhiSig easily, with a score of 31-0. These games temporarily put KA and Pike in a tie for first place, though ATO and SAE have yet to play.

In the Pac 9 division of the Claw league, LAGNAF is leading the pack with an undefeated 2-0 record, putting up big numbers on offense in both games, with scores of 28-0 and 26-6.

They are followed closely by the Ballers, though, who eeked out an 8-2 overtime victory against PGMF, giving them a record of 1-0. Again, though, there are teams who have not yet played a division game. In the Elite 8 division of the Claw league, the Trojans have put up a 2-0 record, closely followed by the Loose Cannons, who have won their only game thus far.

There is a close race going on in the Talon league, as LBOB, Young Guns and DP Talon are all ahead of the pack with 1-0 records, although there are several teams who have yet stepped onto the playing field.

Risky Business is leading the Ladies division, with the sisters of AOPi and Chi Omega nipping closely on their heels with only one loss apiece.

“With this many teams competing against one another, it is going to be a very interesting season,” said intramurals coordinator Eric Simmons. “So far, the games are going really good and have been really competitive. Several games have already required a decisive overtime period, and I expect that there will be quite a few more close games like that.”

The winners of the Talon league, Ladies league, Jack and Jill league and Fraternity league will be rewarded with an all-expense paid trip to New Orleans, where they will compete against the best intramural sports teams from across the nation.