ANNA MARIA – With indoor soccer cancelled for the kids last week, the gridiron was the only stage for local sports on Thursday night.
With the grass still damp from then-Tropical Storm Debby, six teams battled it out as the humidity and football matchups heated up the field. Team Prosper Bradenton forfeited their game against Fishing with Salty.
The Salty Printing squad won their fourth game of the season against Solid Rock Air Conditioning 27-25.
Christian Hampton was the main target of the Salty passers with five receptions, three for touchdowns. On defense, he finished the game with four flag pulls and an interception.
Also, with five catches for Salty Printing, Charles “Tuna” McCracken paired up with team captain Matt Manger to gain positive yardage. He threw for three TDs, while Manger had one scoring pass.
Salty’s Blake Balais was hit for a touchdown catch and four receptions, including an all-important one-point conversion. Hampton was the QB’s target for a successful two-point conversion.
The Salty point after plays made the difference between the win and a tie against Solid Rock Air Conditioning.
On the other side of the football, Balais had three stops and an interception. Teammates Cody Allen and Raul Loera made critical flag pulls, keeping the Solid Rock squad from advancing.
Loera’s extra point catch in week five and his continued defensive pressure exemplify his solid transition from a soccer threat to a soon-to-be flag football veteran.
Keeping the pressure on the Salty Printing passers, Travis Bates was credited with two sacks for Solid Rock. Veteran player Karri Stephens made five stops, while his teammates collectively had nine additional flag pulls.
Solid Rock’s defense kept them in the game with interceptions by Angelie Callazo and Zaon Williams. Callazo’s snagging of the Salty pass was taken to the end zone for six points.
Callazo and Williams each had one-point conversions for their team. Callazo’s came after a score by Stephens, and Williams found the endzone to complete the scoring series capped by Callazo’s touchdown.
Solid Rock’s touchdown passes came off the hands of Dominick Otteni and Williams.
After their loss in week five, Floridian Mortgage came back to dominate the second game of the night against Slim’s Place.
Quarterback Chase Richardson threw for five touchdowns. Tim Holly and Rex Kesten each had two TD catches, while teammate Zach Wyrick had one. Kesten and Wyrick added to their scoring stats with points after conversions.
Adding two points to the scoreboard with one-point conversions, Cory Banks and Jasmine Muldoon were Richardson’s intended receivers.
On defense, Holly sacked the Slim’s Place quarterback. Derrick Carey and Wyrick had an interception each.
With the 21-point mercy rule in place, the Floridian Mortgage defense was prohibited from rushing the Slim’s Place quarterback, Cruz Rodriguez, for most of the game.
Rodriguez threw one touchdown to Jaden Grant. Failing to convert after the TD, the final score was 34-6, with the Slim’s Place record going to 1-5-0.
SUN SCOREBOARD
ADULT CO-ED FLAG FOOTBALL – WEEK 6
AUG. 8
Fishing with Salty (5-1-0) Win by forfeit
Prosper Bradenton (2-4-0) L
Salty Printing (4-2-0) 27
Solid Rock Air Conditioning (2-4-0) 25
Floridian Mortgage (5-1-0) 34
Slim’s Place (1-5-0) 6
Moss Builders (2-4-0) 37
Solid Rock Electrical (3-3-0) 14
