Air & Energy puts the chill on Duncan Real Estate

Rejuvenating the sense of community at the Island's core is the goal of The Center this spring. In an attempt to reignite the spirit fun in the sun with flag football, all of the youth flag football games have been scheduled on Saturdays.

From morning to late afternoon, kids of all ages can be found on the gridiron running and catching the football. With the friends and family cheering them on, children from 5 to 18 years old are pulling the flags of their classmates and life long friends.

Starting the day off, nearly 40 players take the field in the 11- to 13-year-old league. The seven teams play their hearts out representing area businesses Planet Stone and Progressive Cabinetry, as well as long-time community supporters Miller Electric, Anna Maria Oyster Bar and Tyler's Ice Cream.

After three weeks of play, the middle school age group finds Team Miller Electric, coached by David Johnston, at the top of the ranks with an undefeated record and two wins. Coach Ray Gardner took his team, Planet Stone, to a 2-1 record this week, sharing post-game positive accolades with team members, building their character and strengthening the team. Currently tied for third with 1-1 records, Tyler's Ice Cream, coached by Tyler's owner and father of two players Rob Alderson, and Progressive Cabinetry, coached by Larry Pearson, go into week three looking for their second win. Team Anna Maria Oyster Bar (AMOB), led by coach Zac Yost, works hard to gain its first win.

The statistics of this age group is amazing. Quarterback Elijah Newman had over 200 passing yards for Team Progressive Cabinetry. Evan Christenson had his own high yardage game with 185 yards as the QB for Team Planet Stone. Team Anna Maria Oyster Bar's Wesley Choate finished his game with 110 throwing yards as the man behind the center.

Turnovers can make the difference in a game. Travis Bates snagged an interception for Team AMOB. Interceptions by Tyler's Ice Cream's Devin Calderone and Blake Balais for Team Planet Stone made the stat list this week.

Ginger Muro and Balais had the hot hands offensively with 130 and 120 receiving yards, respectively. On defense, Pearson's entire team showed its ability to pull the flag with defensive credits for all of its team members. Balais showed his ability on both sides of the football with eight flag pulls making Coach Gardner proud. Calderone and Bates both had six pulls for their teams.

The 11- to 13-year-old flag football division is perhaps the most exciting to watch with players' skills developed and a competitive attitude on the field. The eight- to 10-year-old division with more than 50 players making up the seven teams play the late morning time slots.

Having holdover fans from the previous games, the spectators fill the air with the highest level of energy each Saturday. Business sponsors Slim's Place, Bark and Company, Lancaster Design, Salty Printing, Cloud Pest Control, Beach to Bay and Truly Nolen are represented each week by enthusiastic ballers.
Team Truly Nolen, coached by Rick Hurst, holds the top seat in the rankings three games into the season. The other six teams have similar records with one win, one loss, and some with one tie – proving parity in the league.

As we watch the season progress, it will not be the standout players that will make the difference. The developing player, who grows over the season, will be the key to the championship. In many cases, it is the enthusiastic girl on the field, the unexpected athlete.

Layla Yavalar and Ava Harlan on Team Lancaster Design come by their athleticism naturally, and their football skills have grown over the last couple of seasons. Tori Hurst, for Team Truly Nolen, works hard each game to make the difference. Team Beach to Bay's Lilly Kawahata showed her defensive ability this week. Salty Printing has the Culhane sisters, Marley and Mikaela, each contributing to their teams' efforts.

For Slim's Place, the Johnston sisters make their presence known on the field. As the starting quarterback for her team, Kendall Johnston, lead her team to near-victory this week. Jayden Sparks and Jocelyn Raines give it their all of their team, Bark Real Estate. Cloud Pest Control has its own female powerhouses in Brielle Fitzsimmons and Brenna Heckler.

The oldest age division, the 14- to 17-year-olds, with four teams and 30 players, play to a slim cheering section. Having the last time slots of the day, the concessions are closing, the snow cone truck has left, there are no straggling fans from previous games to cheer them on – only the devoted parents, friends and family members.

These veteran players pound the turf for fun and, to be honest, for a chance to cut up a little and forget the pressures of high school. Even the referees are done for the day before these games start, but the fun still goes on.

Lucen Lubore, for Team Intechgrate Systems, topped the week with 280 passing yards. His team dominated the field with Lane Burnett charging down the field with 135 passing yards, only to be seconded by Nate Hyman capturing 100 yards with great receptions. Joe Peery and Javier Rivera supported their team on both sides of the ball.

Rutger Langley aired up 145 passing yards for Team Air & Energy, getting the ball to Silas Banyas, Roman Langley, Chance Hayward and Morgan Horesh.

In their victory over Duncan Real Estate, Team Sign-A-Rama the well-rounded team, lead by Tuna McCracken with 120 passing yards in the game, proved the rusher can make the difference ence in the game. Getting in to the head of the opposing team's quarterback is key, and Cooper Hardy and Chelsea Brashear accomplished this Saturday. Both players, forcing quarterback Mac May to scramble and throw the ball, also had critical sacks, one by Hardy for a safety.

Receptions and ground yardage by Tyler Brewer, David Daigle and Connor Ludwig paved the way for two touchdowns by Hardy. Despite the loss, Duncan Real Estate had standout plays by Jackson Hayes, Marcus Boyles, John McCauley, Bryce Higgins and Chris Snyder.

On the other end of the age spectrum, the 5- to 7-year-old division is truly working this season as a developmental division. The 12 players meet each week to go head-to-head with their friends with Moss Builders as the division sponsor. In the seasons to come, these little ones will be the ones to watch.

Sun Scoreboard
Thursday, Jan. 19 – Semi-Final Playoff Games

Adult Co-Ed Soccer

#1 Mason Martin 3
#4 Wash Family Construction 2

#7 Jiffy Lube 3
#3 Anna Maria CrossFit 7

Saturday, Jan. 21

Youth Flag Football: 8-10-Year-Old League

Lancaster Design 6
Truly Nolen 34

Beach to Bay 15
Salty Printing 20

Slim's Place 12
Bark Real Estate 16

Youth Flag Football: 11-13-Year-Old League

Anna Maria Oyster Bar 0
Tyler's Ice Cream 22

Planet Stone 26
Progressive Cabinetry 7

Youth Flag Football: 14-17-Year-Old League

Duncan Real Estate 6
Sign-A-Rama 14

Air & Energy 7