MAHOPAC, N.Y. - With summer winding down, the NY Female Flag Football League playoffs are here, and No Flags Given squared off against the Cosmic Charlies. At Mahopac High School on July 30, a 13-6 contest was shaping up as a fierce back-and-forth battle, with the Cosmic Charlies knocking on the door. But Amanda Saulean had other ideas when Lisa Gillis fired a pass toward the goal line.
“She jumped the route,” said Krystal Council of her North Salem teammate. Saulean's sideline interception turned into a pick-six that helped propel No Flags Given to a 28-19 victory.
Gillis did get her team moving on the opening drive. She connected with Marisa Lieberman for a first down at midfield before completing a pass to Nicole O'Connor at the five-yard line. The drive, however, ended on downs.
No Flags Given followed a similar script on its opening possession. A pass across midfield found Saulean, who made a tough catch along the sideline to give Kayla McDonough her first completion. Two incompletions later, the drive stalled on fourth down after Anna Wroclawski made a catch at the five.
The next possession proved far less even for the Cosmic Charlies. Margaret O'Kane rose up at midfield to come away with an interception.
The tall defender and receiver wasn't finished. After Council hauled in a high pass over the middle, O'Kane found herself open in the corner of the end zone for the game's first touchdown.
“It’s a lot of footwork,” said the Mahopac resident.
Wroclawski then caught the extra-point conversion, and the Mount Kisco resident reveled in the opportunity.
“I love seeing the ball like a torpedo coming at you, full speed, and you see your name on it,” the receiver said.
Undeterred, Gillis led another drive. She found Lieberman just short of midfield before spreading the ball to Mika McLane for another first down.
Moments later, Gillis rolled to her right before throwing all the way across the field to the left corner of the end zone, where Lieberman hauled in the touchdown.
“It’s a lot of chaos, a lot of confusion and a lot of running,” said the Katonah receiver.
The extra-point attempt failed, leaving No Flags Given with a 7-6 lead heading into the second half.
No Flags Given wasted little time extending the advantage. On the opening play, McDonough patiently worked in the backfield before spotting O'Kane along the sideline.
“She’s a great target,” said the Goldens Bridge resident.
A play later, McDonough converted a third-and-one with a rollout to the left, and two plays after that, O'Kane was once again alone in the left corner of the end zone, making an easy touchdown catch for a 13-6 lead.
With 18:50 remaining, the Cosmic Charlies appeared ready to answer. Lieberman picked up five yards on a handoff before catching another pass that moved the ball near midfield.
Then came a costly break. McLane caught a pass in traffic and broke behind the defense with nothing but the end zone ahead of her. Thinking her flag had been pulled, she slowed up, allowing No Flags Given to make the stop at the 10-yard line. Two straight incompletions brought up fourth down.
Saulean made the game-changing play.
“I saw the ball coming, stepped in front and ran all the way,” said the cornerback.
The extra point was good, stretching the lead to 20-6.
The Cosmic Charlies refused to fold.
“We don’t know any other speed than 0 and 100 miles per hour,” Gillis said.
On the ensuing possession, Lieberman hauled in the second of her three touchdown receptions with 11:30 remaining.
The conversion failed, keeping the margin at eight points, and No Flags Given answered with another sustained drive.
McDonough completed passes to Wroclawski, O'Kane and Council, prompting praise from the receiver.
“She has a good eye and a good arm, and she shares the ball,” Council said.
From 10 yards out, No Flags Given delivered the clinching score. After two incompletions, Council reached low for a pass over the middle and credited the play to familiarity and timing.
“It’s just repetition and making sure our quarterback can see me,” she said.
The Cosmic Charlies still had one last response. On second down, Gillis launched another deep pass, and Lieberman came down with her third touchdown catch. But with only 2:49 remaining, there wasn't enough time to overcome the eight-point deficit.
Four plays later, the game was over, but No Flags Given believes its season is far from finished.
“We’re going to kick butt and win,” Saulean concluded.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here