Adult flag football closes in on season
The co-ed flag football season at the Anna Maria Island Community Center is in its final week with some important games ahead to decide the all-important seeding for playoffs.
In the AFC, Island Sun Bills, Florida Discount Sign Colts and Southern Green Seahawks all have 5-2 records and a loss could make their path to the Super Bowl much more difficult.
It’s the same in the NFC, where Sato Real Estate Browns, Waterfront Restaurant Dolphins and Duffy’s Tavern Raiders also have 5-2 records.
There were some exciting games played last week, including the opening game Feb. 21 that saw BY Construction Bears edge Duncan Real Estate Cardinals 34-27. Other scores from the evening include Waterfront Restaurant Dolphins defeating Lobstahs Lions 33-18, Tyler’s Ice Cream Vikings over Florida Discount Signs Colts 31-12, and Duffy’s Tavern Raiders over the Sun Bills 42-29.
Feb. 20 action saw Sato Real Estate Browns stay atop the NFC thanks to a 33-20 victory over Beach to Bay Construction Ravens, but the game of the week was Agnelli Pool & Spa Giants vs. Harrington House Buccaneers 55-41 with three defensive touchdowns. Caleb Roberts led the way with three interceptions including two that he “took to the house,” while Pat Calvery added one interception return for a touchdown to his team-high five flag pulls.
The Giants also scored some points on offense behind a good all-around game from quarterback Tim Shaughnessy. He completed 12 of 16 passes for 179 yards and four touchdown passes, while also rushing for 71 yards. Frank Agnelli was his favorite receiver, finishing with six catches for 96 yards, including two touchdowns, two extra points and a two-point conversion. Calvary also scored two touchdowns and finished with 58 receiving yards and 40 rushing yards. Brianna Shaughnessy completed the scoring for the Giants with a touchdown and extra-point receptions.
Richard Fosmore threw for 262 yards and five touchdown passes to lead a potent Buccaneer offense, but also got picked off four times in the game. Three touchdown passes went to Brandon Kern, who finished with four catches for 104 yards. Max Garza added four catches for 66 yards and two, two-point conversions, while Todd Keiser finished with 30 receiving yards and one touchdown in the loss.
Kern and Matt Dwyer each had an interception on defense, while Garza led the Bucs with three flag pulls.
The youth football league at the center is heading into its final week with some seeds to be determined.
The 14-17 division’s top seed seems certain with Integrity Sound Falcons on top with a 7-1 record. West Coast Surf Shop Buccaneers at 6-3 and Lobstahs Colts at 5-3 are unlikely to overtake them.
The 8-10 division is still very close with Lobstahs Browns on top with a 7-2 record, closely followed by LPAC Cardinals and Coastal Orthopedic Bears, both of whom lost games last week. The only team certain of its seeding position is Beach Bistro Buccaneers, which has eighth seed locked up.
The 11-13 division’s top seed is pretty much guaranteed barring an upset loss by Holy Cow Cardinals against the 1-6 Walter & Associates Bears.
Holy Cow defeated Ross Built Dolphins 27-20 on Feb. 20 to lock up the top seed, possibly providing a preview to the March 22 Super Bowl.
Joey Stewart completed 17 of 26 passes, including four touchdown passes to lead the Cardinals. Tyler Pearson caught eight passes, producing two touchdowns and three extra points. Bathie Thiam and Devon Jones both had touchdown receptions to complete the Cardinal scoring.
Stewart, Trent Boring and Thiam each had four flag pulls to lead the Cardinal defense.
Ross Built was led by Jake Ross, who ran for a touchdown while also adding a touchdown reception and a two-point conversion.
Andrew Ross paced the Dolphin defense with five flag pulls, while Jake Ross added an interception to go along with four flag pulls in the loss.
Eat Here Packers showed teams in the 14-17 division that they can’t be overlooked by defeating second-place West Coast Surf Shop Buccaneers 46-36 Feb. 19.
Cody Tsai completed 21 of 34 passes, including six for touchdowns to lead the fifth-seeded Packers. Brad Duffman was his favorite target, hauling in 11 passes — three for touchdowns. Pearce Hogan added two touchdown receptions, while Thomas Powers had seven catches, one for a touchdown and three extra points.
Duffman led the Packer defense with nine flag pulls and an interception return for a touchdown, while Tsai added six pulls and an interception.
Tony Sperduto led the Buccaneers with six catches, including four for touchdowns, while Mikey Ellsworth added five catches and one touchdown. Zach Stewart threw three touchdown passes among his 14 pass completions, while Jack Shinn completed four of five passes, including one for a touchdown in the loss.
Sperduto had two interceptions and Stewart added one to lead the Buccaneer defense, which also received four flag pulls from Shinn.
Lobstahs Browns made a statement heading into the playoffs that perhaps they’re the team to beat in the 8-10 division after rolling past the 7-3 Coastal Orthopedic Bears 36-20 Feb. 20.
Quarterback Nathan Hyman ran for one touchdown, while completing 12 passes for four touchdowns. Jack Barnes was his favorite target, finishing with six catches, including two touchdowns, an extra point and a 2-point conversion. Morgan Horesh added a touchdown and an extra point, while Roman Langley completed the scoring with a touchdown reception.
Jackson Hayes provided all of the offense for the Bears, running for two touchdowns and hauling in a pass from Tuna McCracken for a touchdown.
Key Royale golf news
It was a busy week of golf at Key Royale Club with the men’s handicap club championship matches starting play, in addition to daily golf matches. Stay tuned for results of the handicap club championship.
The women joined the men for a best-ball-of-foursome match Feb. 22. The team of Joyce Brown, Jerry Brown and Sue Little posted a 9-under-par 23 to take first place by two shots over the team of Frankie Smith-Williams, Earl Huntzinger, Penny Auch and Sandy Burrel.
The men played an 18-hole, individual-low-net-match Feb. 20. Jim Shepard carded a 4-under-par 60 to earn a three-shot victory. Dale Hudson took second place with a 1-under-par 63.
The men played a nine-hole, individual-low-net match the morning of Feb. 18. Chet Hutton and Don LaTorre both carded 3-under-par 29s to finish in a tie for first place. Vince Meracadante, Dick Eichhorn, Bill Shuman and Jim Auch tied for second at 1-under 31.
The men played a modified-Stableford match in the afternoon. Jack Isherwood, Jim Shepard and Barry Anderson were all plus-4 and tied for first in the individual competition. Anderson teamed up with Dean Christensen, Al Carr and Buddy Foy to take the team title with a combined plus-6.
The men played an 18-hole, individual-low-net match Feb. 16. Bob Elliott carded a 1-over par 65 to take first place by one shot over Jim Mixon.
The women hosted a benefit tournament Feb. 19 to raise funds for the Mote Marine Laboratory animal hospital. While the total take is being tallied, a good guess puts the funds over $10,000. That’s a winner for Mote.
The winners of the round of golf were Penny Auch, Marcie O’Brien, Donna Karyck and Sandy Burrill.
Horseshoe news
Four teams emerged from pool play during Feb. 23 horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall horseshoe pits. The first semifinal match saw Bruce Munro and Hank Huyghe roll past Bill Wright and Sam Samuels by a 21-7 score. Bob Palmer and Mike Martell eased past Leo Hutton and Fred Huyghe 21-16 in the other semifinal. Munro-Huyghe steamrolled Palmer-Martell 21-1 in the finals.
The Feb. 20 games had five teams advance to the knockout round with 3-0 records. Bill Fox and Dave Lansaw defeated Leo Hutton and Art Kingstad 21-7, while Bob Mason and George McKay defeated Sam Samuels and Tom Skoloda 23-9 in first-round matches. Rod Bussey and Hank Huyghe obliterated Mason and McKay 21-1 in the second round. Bussey and Huyghe then rolled past Fox and Lansaw 21-10 in the finals.
Play gets under way at 9 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m. followed by random team selection.
There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.
AMICC NFL Flag Football schedule
5-7 division
March 1 6 p.m. Tyler’s vs. Lobstahs
8-10 Division
Feb. 27 6 p.m. Lobstahs vs. Tyler’s
March 1 6 p.m. Miller Elect vs. A&E
March 1 7 p.m. LPAC vs. Cancer Center
Playoffs
March 2 11 a.m. Bistro vs. 1 seed
March 2 Noon 7 seed vs. 2 seed
March 2 1 p.m. 6 seed vs. 3 seed
March 2 2 p.m. 5 seed vs. 4 seed
11-13 Division
March 1 8 p.m. Holy Cow vs. Walter & Assoc.
Playoffs
March 2 3 p.m. 7 seed vs. 2 seed
March 2 4 p.m. 6 seed vs. 3 seed
March 2 5 p.m. 5 seed vs. 4 seed
14-17 Division
March 2 9 a.m. 5 seed vs. 4 seed
March 2 10 a.m. 6 seed vs. 3 seed
Adult Division
Feb. 27 7 p.m. Tyler’s vs. Agnelli Pool & Spa
Feb. 27 8 p.m. Harrington House vs. BY Construction
Feb. 27 9 p.m. Duncan Real Estate vs. Duffy’s
Feb. 28 6 p.m. FL Discount Signs vs. Beach to Bay
Feb. 28 7 p.m. Lobstahs vs. Southern Greens
Feb. 28 8 p.m. Waterfront vs. Slim’s
Feb. 28 9 p.m. Sun vs. Sato Real Estate
AMICC Adult Volleyball League
Feb. 26 6:30 p.m. Lobstahs vs. IRE
Feb. 26 7:30 p.m. Duncan Real Estate vs. Tyler’s
Feb. 26 8:30 p.m. 6:30 Winner vs. 7:30 Winner