ANNA MARIA – The winter flag football season kicked off last week at The Center of Anna Maria Island. Despite a winter storm, the 8- to 10-year-old and adult leagues managed to play through the rain and cold.
The 11- to 14-year-olds were rained out, making up the game this week.
Eight youth teams played under the threat of rain last Tuesday. Two teams blew out their opponents.
Sato Real Estate and Moss Builders were dominant with the ball and on defense, keeping Beach House/Waterfront Restaurant and Chick-Fil-A, respectively, out of the endzone and scoreless.
Team Cheesecake Cuties were victorious over the Adrian Griffin Interiors squad, 22-6. In a close game, Solid Rock Construction was denied the win by team AMI Coconuts. Winning by six points, AMI Coconuts shares the top of the ranks after week one play.
Narrowly escaping the storms, the adults took to the Island gridiron last Thursday night starting with team Edible Cookie Dough Café, a new team sponsor, and Gulf Drive Café going head-to-head.
In an exciting game, Gulf Drive Café won by 14 points, despite a strong battle and comeback by their opponents.
Dallas Buchholz led the Edible Cookie Dough Café team as the quarterback. With three passing touchdowns, Buchholz hit Alonzo Lemus for two scores, while Steven Pavina grabbed the other scoring catch.
Pavina had a strong opening game with four catches, three flag pulls and two interceptions, including one for a TD. Alex Besaw scored the lone two-point conversion, helping with the team’s 26 total points in the game.
Defensively, Besaw had a stop, along with flag pulls by teammates Buchholz and John Sevier.
Helping Gulf Drive Café win the opening game of the season, Zack Price also threw for three touchdowns. Hitting Jaden Grant, Anthony McCance and Brandon Rolland for 18 receiving points, Grant also put up six points in a running play.
The defensive strength of the Gulf Drive team made the difference as Grant and Price each had four big flag pulls. Teammates Hayley Gerken and Rolland had single stops each.
The Gulf Drive Café interceptions, including two pick sixes, contributed to the team’s first win of the season. Karri Stephens and Grant each had the all-important defensive catches and took the football to the endzone. Stephens had three interceptions in the game.
Adding to the team’s momentum in the game, Grant had a two-point conversion, while McCance and Rolland each had successful point after catches.
Rounding out the night, Solid Rock Construction beat Slim’s Place by three points. New team sponsor Floridian Mortgage shut out Sandbar Seafood & Spirits, winning 14-0.
In the final game of the night and closing out week one of flag football play, team Moss Builders eked out the win over Salty Printing by three points.
With weeks of play remaining, winter flag football looks to be another exciting season of youth and adult action.
SUN SCOREBOARD
JAN. 16 – YOUTH FLAG FOOTBALL
8- TO 10-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE
Cheesecake Cuties 22
Adrian Griffin Interiors 6
Sato Real Estate 24
Beach House/Waterfront Restaurant 0
AMI Coconuts 19
Solid Rock Construction 13
Moss Builders 37
Chick-Fil-A 0
JAN. 18 – ADULT CO-ED FLAG FOOTBALL
Gulf Drive Café 40
Edible Cookie Dough Café 26
Solid Rock Construction 37
Slim’s Place 34
Floridian Mortgage 14
Sandbar Seafood & Spirits 0
Moss Builders 29
Salty Printing 26
