Cortez Deep Sea Fishing lands a win

ANNA MARIA – The start of the summer adult flag football season kicked off last week with a high-scoring game between the Sandbar Restaurant squad and team We The Best Lending – WTBL is a new business sponsor at The Center.

Throwing up three interceptions, including one for a runback and touchdown, the Sandbar was no match for WTBL, with a final score of 50-22.

Catalyst took the second game of the night by 10 points over Beach Bums. Wearing the new sponsor’s logo, four Mosses, two Longs and one Skipper put significant stats in the record books in the win.

In the blowout of the night, team TBT scored 34 points and kept the TMT squad out of the endzone, finishing the game with the score 34-0.

The final game of the night came down to two failed extra-point attempts by team Rays Ramblings and a nice debut performance of team Cortez Deep Sea Fishing as an adult league squad.

Fielding many familiar faces for the first time in the adult flag football league, six of the seven players on team Cortez Deep Sea Fishing – CDSF – played in the youth league up until the last couple of years.

With the return of Raymond Gardner to The Center’s field after a season-ending Achilles injury in November 2020, but only as a “coach,” the Rays Ramblings veteran roster played an electric game against the young team with the average age of 19.

Playing for the fun of the game and the love of the win, the Cortez Deep Sea Fishing squad eked out a win despite the three sacks by Karri Stephens and interception by Bobby McMillan for Rays Ramblings.

Tuna McCracken connected with lifelong friend Tyler Brewer for a CDSF TD. Brewer’s scoring includes an extra point.

The female player and veteran player of the game, Ava Zink, showed why her close friendship with teammates was not the only reason she was her team’s pick during the draft. Zink made two catches, including one for a point after conversion. She also had a critical interception on the Rays Ramblings side of the field.

Returning to the adult field for another season, Cole Carter added a running score and interception to his team’s stats. The team’s veteran, Kevin Roman, made important plays on the defensive side of the ball for CDSF.

Blake Balais used his height and jumping ability to help stop offensive efforts of Rays Ramblings by covering the former champion players on the team.

Ramblings quarterback Ryan Moss hit his favorite receiver and longtime friend, Jordan DeMers, for two receptions. In the game, the hot hands of James Roadman and Stephens put 12 points on the scoreboard.

R. Moss found himself under the pressure of the CDSF rushers. Brewer and Connor Ludwig each had one sack. Ludwig’s came in the last minutes of the game, during the Rays Ramblings last offensive possessions. His stop helped give CDSF control of the football and the clock to end the game and give the team their first win 14-12.