Catalyst takes flag football championship

ANNA MARIA – The championship adult flag football game last Thursday night may be the beginning of the new era of Moss champions. The victory for team Catalyst, captained by Jon Moss, sets the stage for the possibility of new dominance on the gridiron at The Center.

For years, Moss has played in the recreational league either alongside or against his brother Ryan Moss, who has a number of championships and accolades to his credit. This season, after defeating his sibling and team Rays Ramblings in the semifinal game, J. Moss took his team all the way.

Coming into the game as the second-ranked team, Catalyst was the team to beat. Their opponents, team TBT, finished fifth in the regular season. After beating the top-seeded team, We The Best Lending, TBT came into the championship game determined to prove that their win the prior week was not just a fluke.

TBT started the game with 20 minutes on the clock, getting close to midfield on the second down play. Octavious Cole caught the first down throw by Matt Briley, to give TBT three more snaps of the football.

Looking to score on second and goal, TBT’s throw to Zach Routh was intercepted by J. Moss to deny the touchdown, leaving the score at 0-0.

Catalyst made quick work of the offensive possession with a throw by J. Moss to cousin Greg Moss. In addition to being teammates with his cousin Greg, the team captain packed his team with two additional family members, father Ed Moss and cousin Brent Moss.

On the next snap, J. Moss found B. Moss running down the sideline with a defender right on him. In a beautiful diving catch, B. Moss caught the ball with his body laid out near the TBT 5-yard line.

Moss was the target in the back left corner for the first score of the game. With the point after attempt unsuccessful, Catalyst led the game 6-0, heading into TBT’s second possession of the game.

TBT failed to make the first down due to pressure by the Catalyst pass rusher, giving the football back to Catalyst with 11 minutes left in the first half of the game.

In addition to the Moss family influence on the Catalyst squad, the representatives from Solid Rock Construction rounded out the team’s roster this season: Zach Long, Evelyn Long and Jesse Skipper.

Getting the first call to action, Z. Long made the catch for Catalyst only to be quickly pursued by Melissa Acevedo, who made the flag pull. Moving the football down the field, Z. Long took his team just short of the first down at midfield.

On third down and long, J. Moss could not find an open defender downfield and turned the ball over on downs to TBT.

With 8:30 left on the scoreboard clock, Skipper made a huge stop with a flag pull behind his backstopping Cole from reaching the first down marker. The next play went to Routh and Catalyst was called for holding as the defender tried to prevent him from gaining more yardage.

Consistently throughout the game, Acevedo found herself open, but not seen by the TBT quarterbacks. Tying up the game, Routh held the ball, waiting for the right person to get free in the endzone. With Acevedo all by herself, Routh went to Briley, scoring the TD.

Long thwarted TBT’s hopes of taking the lead in the game with an interception in the endzone, leaving the score 6-6.

With five minutes to play until halftime, J. Moss smartly hit B. Moss for short yardage just to get him into TBT territory, earning three more plays.

Long, who in 2020 was named Inspiration Academy’s head coach and director of volleyball operations, was the intended receiver for Catalyst for the first down play. The play was broken up by Acevedo who cunningly read the play and batted down the ball before it could reach the receiver’s hands.

The fourth snap of the football resulted in a gain of significant yardage by Skipper, getting Catalyst ever closer to the go-ahead play.

On third down, Catalyst had the option to run or throw the football. J. Moss hit Skipper, who ran it into the endzone. Converting on the point after play, Catalyst widened the lead to seven points.

Cole got the first throw for TBT, looking to score before the end of the first half, only to be stopped by E. Long. Time appeared to quickly tick off the clock as each team scrambled on the field to get into position and make critical plays.

With 16.9 seconds on the clock, E. Long put the pressure on the TBT quarterback, who was able to get the football to Cole, who gained yards past midfield.

TBT got the snap-off with no time left on the game clock and the Catalyst sideline calling for the end of the half. The ball was overthrown to the defended receiver in the endzone, taking both teams to the halftime huddles.

After discussing strategies for the next 20 minutes of play, both teams took to the gridiron with Catalyst leading by seven points.

Catalyst started on offense with a play to B. Moss that was quickly stopped by Acevedo. J. Moss’ next throw to G. Moss was solid, but bounced off of him for no catch at midfield.

On a third down and long play, the undefended G. Moss made the reception and ran the ball before being stopped, nearly scoring. After less than two minutes of play with immense pressure by the defense, J. Moss connected once again to G. Moss for a touchdown in the back of the endzone, advancing the score to 19-6.

Moss threw another catchable ball that bounced off the receiver, leaving the Catalyst lead at 13 points.

A flag pull by E. Long stopped the forward progress of TBT’s Cole. Briley followed up with yardage on the next play. Cole got the first down after the third snap, moving TBT further down the field and into Catalyst territory.

Long showed her volleyball skills by batting down the TBT QB’s throw, taking it to second down and goal for TBT. After a critical defensive move by G. Moss, batting down the football in the endzone and preventing the TBT score, Catalyst took over on offense.

A crossing route by B. Moss gave Catalyst positive yardage with 11:30 left in the game. All alone, Z. Long made the catch and ran the football across the field avoiding TBT defenders.

With the spot near first down, Catalyst failed to make the first down giving TBT another chance with plenty of time left in the game.

Finally finding Acevedo, the TBT QB capitalized on the undefended teammate. Acevedo made the catch past midfield and took it down the field before finally called for flag guarding.

Despite losing yardage, the TBT squad started the next set of downs past midfield. On first down, G. Moss sacked Routh who took the snap. Routh held onto the football too long while looking for open players downfield.

TBT could not make their plays work for them, giving the football back to Catalyst with only four minutes on the scoreboard.

In a possible tide-turning play, Donnie Deitch sacked the Catalyst QB in their endzone for a safety, giving TBT two points for a score of 19-8.

For the next two minutes of the game, TBT fought hard and Catalyst maintained. The efforts of the fifth-ranked team was just not enough and the underdogs lost a hard-played game.

In the end, Jon Moss and his Catalyst crew earned the victory and the title, “champions.”