Camaraderie and resolve lead to flag football championship

SOMERS, N.Y. - When the season began for West Virginia University’s 5th/6th-grade flag football team, the coaches had a primary goal: “We just wanted them to fall in love with the sport,” said assistant coach Jillian Grisanti.

So losing the first game of the NY Female Flag Football League season to Oklahoma didn’t detract from the mission. But the girls still wanted to make a mark, and putting in the work had WVU ending the season with more than just a feeling of amore.

The girls finished the season 4-2, won their semifinal and took the championship with an 18-13 victory over Army.

The team featured a group of experienced players who led the way for several girls who had never played before. “The veterans were great about being supportive,” said Grisanti.

Everything came back around, as well. “From the first practice to the final whistle, these girls exemplified sportsmanship. They celebrated each other, lifted each other up after mistakes, respected opponents, officials, and coaches, and represented our team with class every single time,” Grisanti said.

So whether things were up or down on the field, an even keel was the order of the day. “This season wasn’t always easy. We battled adversity, faced injuries, and had plenty of moments that tested us. Yet these girls never let those challenges define them. They kept showing up, kept believing in one another, and kept putting the team first,” she said.

Nonetheless, Maggie McGuinness was front and center at quarterback. “She came to that role, because we didn’t have anyone to play the position,” said Grisanti. “She was willing to take the challenge and embraced it.”

In the flat and out wide, Brynn Cosentino was the primary receiver. “It builds confidence when your quarterback knows that if she puts it up, the receiver is going to come down with the ball,” said Grisanti.

Savanah Moore and Emerson Scorrano put gravity to work for their quarterback, too, while Isabella Grisanti stayed grounded as the team’s top running back.

The other side of the ball was where WVU set itself apart, though. “Our defense was outstanding,” said Grisanti.

That proficiency radiated from the middle of the defense, where Isabella Grisanti made her presence felt. “She held down the middle,” said Grisanti. “People couldn’t get past her. She was our little nugget.”

Amanda Graham also was a pretty good morsel for the defense, and, all together, the semifinal gave West Virginia the chance to come full circle. “The girls knew they had gotten better,” said Grisanti, and Oklahoma was sent home with a 26-0 defeat.

As for the finals, the mettle that had evolved from day one was tested before anyone even took the field. Scorrano and Cosentino shared the quarterback duties in the absence of McGuinness.

However, the initial impact didn’t come on offense. “They came out quick and strong,” she said, and two touchdowns gave Army a 13-0 first-half lead.

Still time before intermission, the minds met and agreed that the way forward looked back. “We needed to maintain our composure and play our game,” Grisanti said.

West Virginia scored before the half, with Cosentino doing the honors to make it a 13-7 game. “We now had momentum going into the second half,” she said.

WVU didn’t cool off by intermission’s end, either. “We were a team that was just locked in,” said Grisanti, and on the opening possession, Cosentino scored her second touchdown.

Down 13-12, the defense returned to form. “We took away their quarterback’s run (Layla Murolo),” she said, citing the efforts of Isabella Grisanti and Amanda Graham.

The hat trick was next for Scorrano, who made her third trip into the end zone. “Brynn is our biggest offensive weapon - especially when Emerson plays quarterback,” she said.

One stop to get, the usual suspect stepped up on fourth down. “Layla ran the ball, and Isabella grabbed the flag,” Grisanti said.

Genevieve Poretto, Celeste DiLorenzo and Seraphina Calisi were also included in the victory, and the moments that followed were unforgettable, but on a whole different level. “You couldn’t tell which team won,” said Grisanti. “The level of sportsmanship, and the level of camaraderie was unparalleled.”

So the bond closed the book better than any trophy, according to the coach. “Wins and losses fade and championships come and go. But character, resilience, and the way you treat people, that lasts forever,” she concluded.