The ringing in of the new year brought in 2020 and a new season of youth flag football at The Center of Anna Maria Island.
In addition to the football clinics for the youngest ballers, the area boys and girls ranging in age between eight and 17 years old officially started another season on the gridiron last week.
Six games were played, with the winners feeling the wind under their wings with excitement and the teams that came up short learning valuable lessons with the sport. With many games left to play, some standouts became apparent.
In the eight-to 10-year old league, HSH’s Connor Samblis and Savanna Coba made huge plays for their team. Samblis with three recorded receptions, two receiving touchdowns and a pick-six to be included with his two passing touchdowns could be noted as the team MVP.
Coba had two receptions including one for a score in the game. Scoring for HSH included touchdowns by Charlie Neri and Lucas Signor.
Team Rays Ramblings worked hard on the field and held their heads up high despite the loss against HSH with two touchdown passes by Jack McCarthy. Reef Marin was credited with receiving touchdowns in the game, along with six catches by Joseph Bramurov.
In Moss Builders’ win against Beach Bums, Gavin Lyssy had two passing touchdowns and a scoring catch of his own. Ewen Cloutier caught the football for three touchdowns and Cyrus Ryan made a two-point conversion reception.
Despite the loss, Beach Bums’ Hayden Eurice had four catches including one putting six points on the scoreboard for his team.
The only 11-13 age group game last week was between Ugly Grouper and Solid Rock Construction. Coming out on top, Solid Rock’s Evan Talucci caught a touchdown pass to help his team with the win.
On the other side of the field, Frankie Coleman scored, while teammate Aiden Templeton had an interception and took it to the end zone for Ugly Grouper.
The Hashmark Sports defense took advantage of a rocky passing game by Ugly Grouper in the 11-14 flag league, with four interceptions for touchdowns. Shawn Balvin, for Hashmark Sports, had a receiving touchdown and a pick-six.
Teammate Nate Costello snagged the reception on defense for two scoring interceptions and an offensive touchdown reception as well. Alex McCauley grabbed the fourth interception taking it down the field for a score for his team. Chance Hayward scored 12 points for Hashmark in the 54-point win with Ian Godefry noted as the quarterback with three touchdown throws.
Defensively Ugly Grouper’s Jonah Durst and Ethan Brown both had interceptions. Kolby Petrin caught five passes with the remaining members of the roster each having at least one catch in the game.
In the final game of the night, MuniPlan took the win spreading the catches among the team from Tuna McCracken, Tyler Brewer and Fisher Dahlman. Brewer also had six catches in the game with one for a touchdown, along with four for Morgan Horesh including an extra point.
Teammate David Daigle was credited with two touchdown catches in the win against Killer Bait.
Killer Bait’s sole touchdown came from a Ben Barreda throw to Jackson Hayes. Hayes had five catches in the game, with four in the books for Silas Banyas.
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