Champions and contenders triumph at the Center

As another youth flag football season comes to a close at The Center, kids from eight to 17 years old took the grid iron this past week hoping to be crowned league champions or more in their division playoffs. The Island area’s youth played hard all season and Tuesday night’s semi-final game between LaPensee Plumbing & Pools and Heidi Johnston ReMax was no different for the eight-to 10-year-olds. The defensive battle resulted in a low scoring game with exciting action from the elementary school kids.

Starting on offense, Kiera Johnston led her team, Heidi Johnston ReMax, as the quarterback with a short pass to Cameron Murphy. Johnston continued to move the ball down the field toward the first down mark with a completed pass to Zack Stewart. The play was stopped short of the first down by Julian Lazzara, for LaPensee Plumbing & Pools, with a quick flag pull. Gaining the first down, Quinton O’Conner caught Johnston’s pass, giving ReMax three more plays to score.

Girl power on the field proved to be successful once again between Johnston and Murphy before having her flag pulled by Jack Procter. After an incomplete pass on second down, a double reverse attempt failed, turning the ball over on downs.

LaPensee’s Andrew Hyman opened at quarterback with two straight handoffs to speedy Dante Tilelli, both of which were stopped for little gain. A long pass attempt to Procter was incomplete, giving the ball back to ReMax. The teams then traded possessions, but strong defense by both clubs kept the game scoreless.

Starting their third offensive possession, Remax’s Stewart is handed the ball. After his short run play, Stewart was called upon on the next play to throw the ball after a reverse from O’Conner. Stewart’s throw was intercepted in a crucial defensive play by Procter at the ReMax 15-yard line.

LaPensee’s Hyman quickly capitalized on the turnover with a touchdown strike to Procter with less than a minute left in the half. Payton Harlan grabbed the extra point throw giving LaPensee a 7-0 lead.

With time management critical for ReMax, Faul took over as quarterback. Faul hit O’Conner for a 10-yard gain. ReMax called their second and last time out of the game. Hoping to score in the last 30 seconds of the half, Johnston received the snap and quickly gave the ball to Faul, giving him the option to pass the ball or gain rushing yardage. Faul threw to Murphy for a ReMax first down. The first down stopped the clock until the offensive snap.

Faul resumed his position under center. The bad snap on first down again stopped the clock and gave the ReMax offense much needed time to regroup. Faul hit Murphy with a nice throw just short of the end zone. Murphy got open in the end zone for QB Johnston scoring for ReMax. The girls connected again for the one point conversion, tying up the ball game 7-7, which is how the half ended.

The defensive battle continued in the game’s second half until LaPensee’s Hyman threw a quick strike to Harlan, who eluded ReMax defenders and found his way into the endzone. A missed extra point left the game at 13-7, which is all the scoring LaPensee needed to secure the win.

Update: LaPensee Plumbing & Pools advanced to the league final championship game along with Bark and Company. Bark and Company won uts semi-final game Monday night in overtime against Tyler’s Ice Cream. The eight-to 10-year-old youth flag football championship game was played on Saturday, March 12, with LaPensee claiming the victory.

Sun Scoreboard
Monday, March 7

8-to 10-year-old league – Semi-Finals

Tyler’s Ice Cream 6
Bark and Company 12 (OT)

Heidi Johnston ReMax 7
LaPensee Plumbing & Pools 13

Tuesday, March 8

11-to 13-year-old league

LPAC 25
The Feast 28

Truly Nolan Pest Control 14
Tyler’s Ice Cream 18

Signarama 20
West Coast A/C & Heating, Inc. 24

Air & Energy 48
Progressive Energy 6

Wednesday, March 9

Adult league

Truly Nolen 27
Mason Martin 21

Truly Nolen 44
Tyler’s Ice Cream 25

Beach to Bay Construction 36
Coldwell Banker 15

Moss Builders 14
Beach House Real Estate 20

Friday, March 11

8-to 10-year-old league

AMI Vacation Rentals 6
Tyler’s Ice Cream 13

11-to 13-year-old league

Progressive Energy (W)
West Coast A/C & Heating, Inc. (L)

14-to 17-year-old league: Semi-Finals

Team Cuva 53
LPAC 6

Team Mannino 35
Team Snyder 20

Saturday, March 12

8-to 10-year-old league: Finals – Championship Game

LaPensee Plumbing & Pools 25
Bark and Company 6

11-to 13-year-old league: Quarter Finals

Truly Nolan Pest Control 21
Sugar Beach Digital 33

Signarama 18
LPAC 14

Air & Energy 41
Progressive Energy 19

The Feast 14
Tyler’s Ice Cream 33

14-to 17-year-old league: Finals – Championship Game

Team Mannino 20
LPAC 34