The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper


Vol. 17 No. 14 - January 18, 2017

sports

Air & Energy puts the chill on Duncan Real Estate

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

monica simpson | SUN

Team Air & Energy's surprise standout Corey Jacques
evades the flag pull of opponent Chris Snyder,
dancing down the sideline for a critical touchdown
Saturday afternoon at The Center.

 

The role of the volunteer coach at the Island's community center is an important one and it changes over time. As the children change, so do the responsibilities and actions of the coaches in each age division.

When they are at their youngest, in the five- to seven-year-old age group, the coach has to develop the players both in the sport itself and as a sportsman and athlete. This is the critical time where the wrong coach can ruin the game forever in the players' minds or with the right coach the players thrive and move on into future seasons with a love of the game.

As they get older, the coaches of the eight- to 10-year-old league hones previously taught skills and teaches new ones. While on the field during the games, the coaches control the huddle and call plays. Past the technical side of the game, the coach builds character and continuous reinforcement of the importance of sportsmanship on and off the field.

The tweens on the field no longer have the coaches in the huddle. These players are becoming independent and most know more than just the fundamentals of the game. At this point, the standout athletes have clearly made their presence known on the field and are fought for in the draft room by the coaches. But the coaches continue to guide the 11- to 13-year-olds with play development and utilization of the team's roster.

By the time the players are in or nearing high school, the role of the coach is typically much different. This difference is markedly apparent in the style of three of the four teams in the 14- to 17-year-old youth flag football league at The Center this season.

Randy Langley, Sam Hyman and myself have had our kids playing at the community center since they were old enough. We've watched them develop from the small field to the big field either under our guidance as the coach or with one of friends developing their athletic and personal skills.

Once the players enter this age group, it again becomes about playing with your friends and having a great time on the field. Winning is always the end goal, but the coaches generally are not calling the plays and are a virtually silent component on the sideline during the games. Practices, if they are held, are more for fun than for skill development.

As coaches, we are thrilled our kids still want to take time out of their social life and academics to play the game. As parents, we are even more thrilled that our kids want us to be the warm body adult on the sidelines with them.

Saturday kicked off the season for the ever-growing teens. Taking the field, our jaws dropped over and over again in awe of the size of these boys and girls, many of which we have not seen for months.

The first game was a face off between Team Air & Energy, lead by Rutger Langley as quarterback, and Team Duncan Real Estate coached by Joel Snyder. Quarterback Mac May handed off to late team addition Jackson Hayes for short yardage to start the game.

The offensive series for Duncan was cut short with a failed reverse play attempt on second down and a sack by Air & Energy's Morgan Horesh.

Taking over the football, newcomer Corey Jacques showed his athletic ability. Jacques and Horesh gave their team offensive options with big first down catches and long rushing yardage. Past the midfield line, Langley round Silas Banyas in the end zone for the first score of the game. Jacques held his position behind Chris Snyder out jumping his opponent for the extra point andmoving the score to 7-0.

The next offensive series by Team Duncan Real Estate gave the ball back to Team Air & Energy after three snaps of the football. Coach Snyder called a timeout to regroup his team before going back on defense.

Langley took his team back down the field getting the first down with short yardage. The Air & Energy charge was quickly unplugged with an impeding the rusher penalty, a sack on Langley by Hayes, and finally the series ending interception by Snyder.

With the positive energy and momentum, Team Duncan Real Estate used the reverse to Snyder, who saved the nearly botched play with a long ball to Marcus Boyles, who ran away with the ball to score a touchdown for his team. A two-point conversion advanced the score to 7-8, with Duncan in the lead going into the second half.

Starting on offense, Air & Energy took six snaps of the football to end its possession with a touchdown, putting six more points on the scoreboard. Once again Jacques was the playmaker for his team down the field. Horesh sealed the deal with the touchdown reception reaching his arms into the end zone for the score.

The game soon became a defensive battle, and yellow penalty flags were thrown to stop both team's offenses from getting into scoring position. Team Air & Energy's next offensive run ate a significant amount of time off the clock, but the team came up short with no points, despite first down yardage gained by Chance Hayward and Roman Langley.

Back on offense, with the score 13-8, Team Duncan Real Estate saw the victory line ahead. On the first snap, Jacques snagged the ball out of the air and ran it in for a pick-six. The touchdown was followed by the extra point throw from Rutger Langley, who patiently waited for the field to open up finding Jacques at the back of the end zone.

Nine points down, Coach Snyder, who had been calling the plays the entire game, needed to score two touchdowns to win. Hoping for a miracle, three unsuccessful plays saw the scoreboard clock tick to zero to end the game with the score 17-8.

With no overtime play during the regular season, the second 14- to 17-year-old game of the afternoon ended in a tie 0-0. Team Intechgrate Systems and Team Sign-A-Rama played a strong defensive game, only allowing three first downs in the entire game.

Sun Scoreboard

Thursday, Jan. 12 – Quarter Final Playoff Games

Adult Co-Ed Soccer

#4 Wash Family Construction 4
#5 Eason Builders Group 2

#7 Jiffy Lube 5
#2 Ross Built Construction 3

#6 Acqua Aveda 4
#3 Anna Maria CrossFit 4
(5-4 winner in shoot out)

#1 Mason Martin 8
#8 Slim's Place 4

Saturday, Jan. 14
Youth Flag Football:

8-10-Year-Old League

Slim's Place 14
Cloud Pest Control 8

Beach to Bay 20
Bark Real Estate 20

Lancaster Design 12
Salty Printing 0

Youth Flag Football:

11-13-Year-Old League

Anna Maria Oyster Bar 6
Progressive Cabinetry 32

Planet Stone 8
Miller Electric 20

Youth Flag Football:

14-17-Year Old League

Duncan Real Estate 8
Air & Energy 21

Sign-A-Rama 0
Intechgrate Systems 0


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