Ravens rally past Falcons in flag football

The Sun Ssports game of the week an 11-to-13-year-old division playoff game between the number four seeded Bark & Company Realty Ravens and the number five seeded Will C Photo’s Falcons in the Anna Maria Island Community Center’s co-ed recreational NFL Flag Football League.

The Will C Photo’s Falcons jumped out to an early lead. On the second play of the game, quarterback Silas Banyas threw a quick slant rout to Dylan Doyle. Dylan got it to the edge and raced down the sideline 43 yards for the touchdown. Banyas threw a converted extra-point pass to Eli Brashear and made the score 7-0.

About mid-way through the half, the Ravens rally back and got on the scoreboard. On a second and goal play from the 12-yard line, quarterback John Smith found receiver Bathie Thiam in the far back of the end zone for the touchdown. The two-point conversion was good on a Smith pass to Leo Tilelli and gave them the lead 8 to 7.

With six minutes to go in the half, the Ravens found themselves backed up in their own zone. With a third down and long play, the Ravens rallied again. John Smith threw a long go-rout pass to Dalton Guthrie. Guthrie made a great catch a little past mid-field and carried the rest of the way 45 yards to the end-zone and the TD. The two-point Smith pass was a jump ball in the end-zone and Thiam pulled it down for the conversion which made the score 16 to 7 Ravens.

With 38 seconds left in the half, the Ravens got the ball back. They marched down the field using their timeouts and good clock management and finally scored with only five seconds left in the half. Smith threw a three-yard strike to Thiam for the touchdown. The extra-point was no good and took their team into halftime with a 22 to 7 lead.

Early in the second half, Ryan Doyle sparked the Falcon’s defense when he intercepted a pass and returned it past mid-field. The Falcon’s offense answered. Joe Peery stepped under center and threw a long 28-yard pass to Dylan Doyle for the touchdown. The extra-point was no good and brought the Flacon’s back into the game with a score of 22 to 13.

With only three minutes left in the game and the Falcon’s defense needing to stop the Ravens on a first and goal from the 5 yard line, Dylan Doyle came up with a game changing interception. Dylan turned the interception into an apparent pick six touchdown, but it was not meant to be. The play was called back on a Falcon’s penalty.

The Falcon’s stopped the Ravens from scoring though and got the ball back with two minutes left. Two plays later, Thiam rallied his Ravens defense one more time and sealed the victory with a pick six interception of his own. The extra-point was good when Smith passed to Ava Zink and made the final score 29 to 13.

The win for the Ravens ended the Falcons season and moved them into the next round of the playoffs. They will face the number one seeded LPAC Cardinals in their next game.

Youth 5-7-Year-Old Flag Football Schedule

March 14, Friday, 6 p.m. – Miller Electric Broncos vs. Air & Energy Bucs
March 17, Monday, 6 p.m. – Awards Ceremony

Adult co-ed 18 & Over Flag Football Results
Beach to Bay Dolphins  39
Duffy’s Tavern Eagles  32

Slim’s Place Bears  51
Agnelli Pool & Spas Giants  31

Beach Bistro Raiders  46
Waterfront restaurant Panthers  21

Adult co-ed Volleyball Schedule

April. 1, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. – Third seed vs. second seed team - Playoffs

April. 1, Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. – Winner of 7:30 game vs. first seed team – Championship game

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.