Everyone's a winner in Center football
PHOTO/SCOTT DELL
Quarterback Thomas Heckler drops back
to pass for Connelly Marine Buccaneers.
The Sun sports Game of the Week came under the Friday night lights when the Air & Energy Patriots played the Connelly Marine Buccaneers in Instructional League Community Center NFL Flag Football action. These five to seven year old, half pint players, were packed full of excitement. You could hear fans cheering, coaches encouraging and players giggling. Some of the action included five-year-olds running with the ball the wrong way, six-year-olds bobbing and weaving through the defense, and seven-year-olds scoring touchdowns and celebrating in the end zone like it was the best thing ever.
The excitement started on the very first play. Hailey Jonatzke, of the Connelly Marine Buccaneers, took the handoff from quarterback Thomas Heckler and ran for a long touchdown. The Air & Energy Patriots did not score on their first possession but the series was highlighted by a nice first down run by Madelyn Rogers. The Buccaneers got the ball back and ran a tricky reverse to Andrew Austin who ran it to the two yard line. Two plays later David Daigle ran up the middle for the touchdown. The two teams went back and forth not scoring but just before the half Dean Stephenson took a second down handoff and zigzagged in for a 15 yard Patriots touchdown.
In the second half, the A & E Patriots strike first. Patriots quarterback Gavin Johnston threw a touchdown pass to Conley, who ran 20 yards for the score. On the next play from scrimmage. Andrew Austin bobbed and weaved around defenders for a 25-yard Buccaneers running touchdown. The extra point was good when Austin threw a pass to David Daigle, who made a nice grab in the back of the end zone.
With the Super Bowl coming up this weekend, it was inspiring to watch these little tikes. Are these the future stars of the NFL? On this field, this is where dreams are forged, talents are taught and at the end of the game, everyone's a winner.
Scores:
Division III (8-9-year-olds)
Connelly Marine Falcons 12
Island Real Estate Saints 25
Beach Bums Seahawks 33
Connelly Marine Falcons 6
Division II (10-12-year-olds)
Ross Built Construction Vikings 47
LaPensee Plumbing Falcons 20
Walter & Associates Steelers 33
Holy Cow Colts 20
Holy Cow Colts 21
Eat Here Jaguars 12
Ross Built Construction Vikings 40
Southern Greens Buccaneers 7
Walter & Associates Steelers 34
Anna Maria Oyster Bar Dolphins 6
Sandbar Cowboys 33
Southern Greens Buccaneers 12
Eat Here Jaguars Win
Mr. Spiffy Cleaning Chargers Forfeit
Division I (13-16-year-olds)
Mr. Bones Eagles 18
First American Bank Bills 30
Bassett, Vita, Vining & Hermann Group Raiders 28
First American Bank Bills 7
Adult Co-Ed League:
Island Sun Falcons 41
Slim's Place Jaguars 12
Sato Real Estate Browns 26
Bob Vita Landscaping Cowboys 0
Walter & Associates Steelers 24
Beach to Bay Construction Rams 15
MartiniVille Bears 14
Jessie's Island Store Vikings 20
Rotten Ralph's Packers 19
Hurricane Hanks Patriots 36
AMICC NFL Flag Football Schedule:
Instructional League (5-7-year-olds)
Feb. 2, Wednesday, 6 p.m.
Air & Energy Patriots VS. Island Dental Spa Broncos
Feb. 4, Friday, 6 p.m.
Air & Energy Patriots VS. Connelly Marine Bucs
Feb. 4, Friday, 7 p.m.
Tyler's Ice Cream Vikings VS. LPAC Cardinals
Feb. 7, Monday, 6 p.m.
Air & Energy Patriots VS. Tyler's Ice Cream Vikings
Division III (8-9-year-olds)
Feb. 4, Friday, 6 p.m.
Beach Bums Seahawks VS. Island Real Estate Saints
Feb. 5, Saturday, 11 a.m.
Connelly Marine Falcons VS. Island Real Estate Saints
Division II (10-12-year-olds)
Feb. 1, Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Ross Built Vikings VS. LPAC Cardinals
Feb. 1, Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Walter & Associates Steelers VS. Sandbar Cowboys
Feb. 2, Wednesday, 6 p.m.
Mr. Spiffy Cleaning Chargers VS. Ross Built Vikings
Feb. 2, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Southern Greens Bucs VS. LPAC Cardinals
Feb. 4, Friday, 7 p.m.
Holy Cow Colts VS. LaPensee Falcons
Feb. 4, Friday, 8 p.m.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar Dolphins VS. Southern Greens Bucs
Feb. 5, Saturday, noon
Eat Here Jags VS. Anna Maria Oyster Bar Dolphins
Feb. 7, Monday, 6 p.m.
Mr. Spiffy Cleaning Chargers VS. Sandbar Cowboys
Feb. 7, Monday, 7 p.m.
Walter & Associates Steelers VS. LPAC Cardinals
Feb. 8, Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Holy Cow Colts VS. Ross Built Vikings
Feb. 8, Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar Dolphins VS. Walter & Associates Steelers
Division I (13-16-year-olds)
Feb. 1, Tuesday, 8 p.m.
Bassett, Vita, Vining & Hermann Group Raiders VS. Mr. Bones BBQ Eagles
Feb. 2, Wednesday, 8 p.m.
Beach Bistro Bears VS. 1st Bank Of America Bills
Feb. 7, Monday, 8 p.m.
1st Bank Of America Bills VS. Mr. Bones BBQ Eagles
Feb. 8, Tuesday, 8 p.m.
Mr. Bones BBQ Eagles VS. Beach Bistro Bears
Adult Co-Ed League
Feb. 3, Thursday, 5:30 p.m.
MartiniVille Bears VS. Hurricane Hanks Patriots
Feb. 3, Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
Island Sun Falcons VS. Rotten Ralphs Packers
Feb. 3, Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Walter & Associates Steelers VS. Sato Real Estate Browns
Feb. 3, Thursday, 8:30 p.m.
Jessie's Island Store Vikings VS. Bob Vita Landscaping Cowboys
Feb. 3, Thursday, 9:30 p.m.
Beach To Bay Construction Rams VS. Duffy's Tavern Bucs