Duffy’s Eagles are Super Bowl champs

The Sun sports game of the week was the 18 and over co-ed flag football Super Bowl game featuring the Beach to Bay Construction Dolphins versus the Duffy’s Tavern Eagles. The Dolphins entered the playoffs as the number two seeded team and the Eagles came into the playoffs as the underdog number four seed.

The Beach to Bay Dolphins struck first at the 12-minute mark in the first half. Quarterback Ryan Moss pitched back to his brother Jonathan Moss. Jonathan then passed back to Ryan who was sprinting down field for the touchdown. The extra-point was good on a crossing route Ryan Moss pass to Shawn Kaleta and made the score 7-0.

The Duffy’s Tavern Eagles responded right away. On second down, quarterback Chris Gillum threw a 45-yard bomb to Chad Woods for the touchdown. The extra point was good on a Gillum pass to Jason Vancleave which tied the score 7-7.

With five minutes left in the half, the Dolphins scored on a big third and goal from the one-yard line play. Ryan Moss threw a quick flip pass to Jonathan Moss for the TD. The extra-point pass was good again on the same flip pass to Shawn Kaleta, which gave them the lead 14-7.

With just over two minutes left in the half, Gillum threw a short five-yard slant to Chad Woods for the Eagles touchdown. The extra point tied the game at 14 all when Gillum passed to Jodi Jester in the middle of the end zone.

The Dolphins didn’t waste anytime, and on second down Ryan Moss threw a 38 yard bomb to a wide open Kaleta for the touchdown. The extra point was a spectacular one-handed grab in the back of the end zone by Andy Christman and gave the Dolphins the lead 21-14 with 47 seconds left in the half.

The Eagles still had plenty of time in the first half and all of their timeouts left. Finally, with great clock management and seven seconds left, Gillum hit Chris Muldoon on a corner flag route for the seven yard TD. The extra-point tied the game at 21 to 21 when Gillum found Muldoon again to end the half.

The Super Bowl battle between these two teams was turning out to be one of those games where whoever had the ball last was probably going to win.

In the first half, Ryan Moss threw for 68 yards and two TDs and caught a TD. Jonathan Moss threw for 64 yards and one TD and also caught a TD. Shawn Kaleta had 58 yards receiving with one TD and two extra-points for the Dolphins.

For the Eagles in the first half, Chris Gillum threw for 156 yards and three touchdowns. Chad Woods had 71 yards receiving and two TDs. Chris Muldoon had 56 yards receiving and one TD.

The second half shootout was a continuation of the first. The Dolphins started with the ball, and on second down, they did the pitch back play to Jonathan Moss and then he threw a 35 yard bomb back to quarterback Ryan Moss for the TD. The extra-point was the flip pass to Shawn Kaleta and gave the Dolphins back the lead 28 to 21.

The Eagles again answered on a first down and goal play from the 10-yard line. Gillum threw a back shoulder fade to Jodi Jester for the TD. They did not tie the game though when the extra-point attempt failed, which at the time seemed like it could be the game changer.

The Eagles defense answered the call and forced the Dolphins to their first three and out of the game. This gave the ball back to the Eagles offense with just over nine minutes left in the game.

Gillum wasted little time and Jodi Jester made a great over the shoulder catch in the end-zone for her second TD of the game. To try and tie the game, the Eagles decided to go for the two-point conversion. They succeeded when Gillum found Muldoon in the end-zone for the score. This gave the Eagles the lead for the first time in the game 35 to 28.

With less than six minutes left in the game, the Dolphins again marched down the field. But on second and goal from the 14-yard line, the Dolphins stalled. Eagle’s defender Jason Vancleave created the first turnover of the game when he intercepted a pass in the end-zone.

The Eagles used up a bunch of the remaining time on the clock and with only one minute and six seconds left, Gillum threw a 27-yard post pattern to Chad Woods for his third touchdown. The extra-point was no good and the score was now 41 to 28.

The Dolphins did not give up though. With just 44 seconds left in the game, Ryan Moss threw a crossing pass to Jonathan Moss in the back of the end-zone for the touchdown. The extra-point attempt failed leaving the score 41 to 34 Eagles ahead.

With strategic timeouts and good defense, the Dolphins were able to force the Eagles to their first three and out. But it only left one second on the clock and the entire length of the field to go for the tying Dolphin score.

In one last desperation Hail-Mary play, the Eagles defenders knocked the ball to the ground in the end-zone and sealed the Super Bowl Championship victory with a final score of 41 to 34.

Fl. Discount Signs & Wraps Volleyball Champs

The number two seeded Florida Discount Signs & Wraps team defeated the number one seeded Duncan Real Estate team in the Anna Maria Island Community Center’s Co-ed Adult Volleyball championship game.

The Florida Discount Signs & Wraps team won in two straight sets by a score of 25 to 20 and a score of 25 to 16. The championship team was only playing with three players too. Ray Gardner, Matt Ray and Monica Simpson composed the new 2014 championship team.

Healthy food can taste great

As a TV reporter ages ago, I used to get paid the big bucks (ha) getting all sides to a story and doing the research it takes. So this volunteer column is the result of my week’s experiences and what I can write in two to three hours time. I always hope to inspire and prevent needless suffering of humans and animals that occurs way too often.

It is my belief that in our area, it would be a huge financial benefit if we had more vegan restaurants. Really vegan restaurants.

Like the exclusively vegan restaurant Ionie’s in Sarasota. My friend, Carl Lovejoy, is the amazing chef there. Check out restaurants’ Facebook pages or websites to see what they’re serving.

What I love are restaurants that aren’t afraid to say they are vegan in their name. Leafy Greens in St. Petersburg is an example. The first yelp review says, “Very fresh ingredients and the largest dehydrator I've ever seen combine for a menu that is very palatable even to non-vegans. 

Highly recommend the chilled curry soup, spinach salad with berry dressing, Mediterranean pizza and The Real Deal.

Also, the vegan chocolate lava cake is the perfect balance of dates and cacao. This is the way things should be. Healthy food can taste great!”

My problem is that I’ve traveled the country on book tour, and my publisher and others have taken me to the best and outrageously, financially successful vegan restaurants. Karyn’s on Greens in Chicago, The Chicago Diner, Café Gratitude all over California, New York’s Candle 79, San Francisco’s Millenium, Philly’s Vedge are just a sampling of restaurants that are exclusively vegan and even boast it in their titles.

Guess what? All those cities have lots of people, I bet, who travel here and would love an exclusively vegan restaurant option. I for one, would be a regular. Even an exclusively vegetarian restaurant on the Island would be awesome.

Speaking of food, the deadline is approaching to register for my noon Taste of Vegan cooking classes at the Anna Maria Island Community Center on all Thursdays in February. Fresh Market has donated the food. To whet your appetite, here’s what I’ll be demonstrating, and what you get to eat:

Feb. 6: Eating/Staying Fit on $4/Day – Thai no-fry spring rolls, braised collards, stone-broke soup;

Feb. 13: Getting Enough Protein on Just Plants – garbanzo bean salad, tempeh broccoli saute, breakfast scramble;

Feb. 20: Sumptious Salads – easy bean salad, community garden salad, tropical salad;

Feb. 27: Delectable Desserts – chocolate mousse, coconut ice cream, heavenly Island smoothies.

We had a small, but mighty, turnout to brave the cool temps at my free Manatee Public Beach hour-long, mini-workout last week. I start with warm-ups that have kept me injury free, then a walk and or run, depending on group interests, and cool down stretches. Feel free to join us every Monday at 9 a.m. at the Manatee Public Beach playground.

All abilities are welcome. I separate the group if needed. We’re always there as long as the temperature is 50 degrees or warmer. If it’s windy, bring a windbreaker and a towel and water. And I promise never to mention the “v” (vegan) word unless you ask.

I placed first in my age group at the Bradenton YMCA 5K this weekend – the 63rd time placing in a race since 2006. I thought it would be a gentle cross-country course on the county fairgrounds. Instead, it wound through the actual fair itself – heavy lighter fluid, BBQ smoke, people smoking and a fuel truck that blocked the narrow path at one point. But I got to hold my trophy by the Beef-It’s What’s For Dinner sign.

I’ll be attempting the marathon in Celebration next weekend. I’ve been spending way too much time in the chair writing. Sitting is the new smoking you know.

You can follow Island resident Ellen Jaffe Jones on her Facebook page and keep up with her just released book:,"Eat Vegan on $4 a Day," or her website: www.vegcoach.com. She is also a nationally certified personal trainer and running coach. For training in a gym or private hire, contact Ellen at ejones@vegcoach.com or 941-704-1025.