The lack of a semi-professional football league in Wareham isn't preventing some locals from strapping on their shoulder pads.

Wareham locals are participating in the Plymouth-based South Shore Outlaws, a semi-pro football team in the New England Football League.

"I was missing football because I stopped playing after high school. I thought I'd get back into it," said Walter Crumbley, a former defensive end for the Wareham High School Vikings who graduated in 2007.

About 35 to 40 players participate on the team, and approximately eight of those are from Wareham, the 23-year-old Crumbley said.

Crumbley joined in 2005 when the organization was only two years old.

"Some of the Outlaws players came to our town and were looking for players," said Crumbley. "Over the years, we got a bunch of our friends to start going to the league."

Many of the Wareham players have played football together since they were in middle school, said Crumbley. Two players who joined the 2012 season just graduated from Wareham High School.

"If you don't want to go to the college level and still play [football], semi-pro is the best way to go," Crumbley said.

One thing that is different about playing semi-pro is the age diversity on the team, said Crumbley. Players range from 18 to 40 years old, Crumbley said, giving younger players the challenge of going up against more experienced players.

"In high school, the guys weren't that big. But in semi-pro, the guys are big. So it gives you more competition," said Crumbley.

At the end of the day, it is all about having fun.

"In practice, we have a good time," he said. "Sometimes we get serious, but we get the job done well and we have a good time."

The team practices on Forges Field in Plymouth on Wednesdays and plays its home games at Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay on Saturdays.

Though it’s a Plymouth-based team, Crumbley said the Outlaws gets support from all around the region.

"It started off in Plymouth, so we have a lot of Plymouth [fans]. But we have a lot of Wareham fans too," said Crumbley, adding that home games attract a "really good crowd."

The South Shore Outlaws participate in the "AA" division of the New England Football League. During Crumbley's first year in 2005, the team made it to the championship game but lost 7-0 against the Seacoast Hawks.

This year, the Outlaws are off to a good start. The team won its first game on Sunday, July 22, against the Southern Connecticut Sting 27-6. The Outlaws also defeated the Woonsocket Wardogs, 40-12, on July 28.

"It's a good way to start off," Crumbley said about his team's early 2-0 record.

For more about the Outlaws, visit www.ssoutlaws.com