Flag football lights up Center field

ANNA MARIA – This week’s flag football action at the Island’s community center shifted play to Monday night for the youth league. In the 8- to 10-year-old league, Shady Lady was kept to two points with a Luca Vieman interception and run to the end zone on a Prosper Bradenton extra point attempt.

Prosper Bradenton’s Quarterback Grady Sandhoff threw for a single touchdown to Cayson Travis, who had two catches in the game. Sandhoff had two rushing TDs, while teammate Landon Sinphay scored six points running the football.

Preston LaPensee and Riley Karecki each had a catch for positive yardage for Shady Lady in the first game of the week.

Bradenton Beach Parasailing kept the Mac Parkman Foundation team searching for their first win of the season with a 20-0 win. The Solid Rock Construction squad won their fourth game of the season against Progressive Cabinetry in week five action.

Team Beach Bums fought hard against the undefeated Moss Builders team in only their second loss this season.

In the older youth flag football league, 11- to 13-year olds, undefeated team Blalock Walters won their game against HSH by a touchdown. HSH’s Jack Mattick passed for two TDs and took one into the endzone for a rushing score. Receiver Emma Raulerson was Mattick’s target, scoring 12 points in the game.

On the other side of the football, Ashton Hovda threw for three touchdowns. Teammates Peyton Hovda, Mattox Caseman, Liam Proud and Cale Rudacille each had critical scoring catches to help keep the Blalock Walter’s team at the top of the ranks.

Mazie Zoller used her speed to sack the HSH QB twice, keeping the opponent’s leader on his toes.

Zoller, Proud and Rudacille each had extra point conversions, giving their team three points in the game, always keeping a win for HSH just out of reach.

Nissan of Bradenton won against Investigative Lawyers Group, giving both teams a 2-2 record. Team Moss Builders defeated Miz & Hiz Biz by more than two TDs, while Wash Family Construction had a bye week.

Adult flag football was the only sports at The Center Thursday night, with the gym being prepared for the 13^th Annual Murder Mystery performance. Adult indoor soccer resumes this week.

The battle between Shady Lady and Cortez Deep Sea Fishing (CDSF) took the game to overtime with the score 43-43. The battle of the QBs ultimately found the Cortez squad victors.

Quarterback Tuna McCracken threw for six touchdowns, including scoring receptions by Cole Carter, Luis Campos and Ava Zink. Campos had 15 catches in the game including three in successful point-after attempts.

The dynamic duo of Zink and Carter each had two extra points in the team’s second win of the season.

With four touchdown throws, the Shady Lady quarterback, Connor Haughey, hit the hands of Limarcus Waller, Tim Holly and Jasmine Muldoon for 24 points.

Taking it into the endzone himself, Haughey scored two rushing touchdowns, keeping his team in the game.

Shady Lady’s ability to score the points after TDs led to the overtime play, in addition to a safety giving the team two points. Shawn Balvin had an interception and scored three extra points in his team’s loss. Holly and Muldoon each had single point-after conversions.

The defense of CDSF helped capture the victory with single interceptions by McCracken, Carter and Zink. Campos also put the pressure on Haughey and is credited with a sack in the game.

Solid Rock Construction and Prosper Bradenton each move to a 3-3 record with losses to TBT and WTBL, respectively. Moss Builders won their fourth game of the season against Sandbar with the final score 42-24.

This week’s adult flag football action is the last of the regular season. The eight-team league will be moving into the playoffs, with the championship game scheduled for Thursday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m.