Staff photo / Brian Yauger Mahoning Valley QB Dakota Whitt (0) carries the ball and stiff arms a Pittsburgh Saints defender during Saturday’s game.

LEAVITTSBURG — In the Mahoning Valley, football never stops. That opens up avenues for people of all ages to keep playing.

The Mahoning Valley Federals, a member of the Tri-Point Football League, are the newest way players are staying active in the game they love. Saturday served as the team’s home opener, a 26-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Saints.

“They’re basically trying to draw on players in the league and they’re trying to do the best they possibly can,” Joey Mercer, the team’s self-described jack of all trades, said. “As you can see, we’re kind of undermanned right now. It’s our first year out. A lot of our guys are literally playing Iron Man. A lot of time when the offense comes off, only a few players will change. Same when we’re switching into the defense and stuff like that. We’re basically doing the best we can (right now).”

The TPFL is an adult, full-contact football league that has teams based in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. There’s nearby teams in the Canton and Alliance areas as well.

The Federals’ home turf is the old LaBrae Stadium, most recently occupied by the Little Vikings. As the stadium is being repaired, with new bleachers being put in, fans are currently on top of the action, sitting on the sidelines. That’s a temporary thing until the stadium is back in working order.

“We’re in the process of trying to redo the bleachers for everybody to get in there,” Mercer said. “Get the field cleaned up, get the concession stands opened up and stuff like that. So we’re new, we’re trying, we’re just doing the best we can.”

Federals player Rodney Smith Jr. knew he only had a few more years of football left in his body, so he decided to come out and give it a shot.

“I was looking to play. I told myself I got two more years of football left in me so I might as well go play again if I feel like I still got that,” Smith said. “And (general manager) John (Galbraith) reached out to me and set everything up, told me about everything and he told me about the practices so I came out here. I’m dedicated.”

The triple-threat receiver, running back and defensive back, left the game early with an injury, but was still in good spirits following the game. A graduate of Reynoldsburg High School in the Columbus area, Smith is hoping to lay the groundwork for something special going forward.

“I’m just here to lay the first brick,” he said. “Lay the first break, set the foundation, so they can build on that, and give them something to build on. That’s what I’m here to do.”

The TPFL has two local teams in its midst. The Federals as well as the Mahoning Valley Ruff Riderz. The Youngstown-area squads are set to meet up Saturday, July 22 at 5 p.m. at the old LaBrae Stadium in Leavittsburg.

The Federals next home contest is set for June 17 against the Steel City Bobcats. Start time is 6 p.m.