Super Bowl season brings on AMI flag football action
NFL Flag Football is up and running at the Anna Maria Island Community Center. The action got started on Jan. 10 — just in time for Super Bowl fever — with “tailgate” spirit day. The event provides players and fans a chance to ease into mid-season form.
All of the teams got to play at least one exhibition game to work out the kinks from the holiday season, while fans were encouraged to dress in team colors and show off their best team spirit.
The action got going for real Jan. 12 with a pair of games, starting with an 8-10 division matchup between the Lions and the Seahawks.
The Lions officially earned the first victory of the season with a tight 18-13 victory over the Seahawks behind a pair of touchdown runs from Anthony Monetti and one touchdown scamper from Luke Bisio.
Fiona Leathem-Turner paced the defensive effort with five flag pulls, while Monetti added four in the victory.
The Seahawks were led by Riley Quillen, who was on the receiving end of a touchdown pass from Evan Christianson, while German Rivera chipped in with a touchdown run. Noah Johnson completed the Seahawk scoring with an extra point.
Christianson and Rivera paced the Seahawk defense with three flag pulls each in the loss.
The second game of the evening saw the Saints slaughter the Lions by a 44-0 score in the inaugural 11-13 division season game.
The Saints were paced by a pair of touchdown runs and an extra point from Jackson Hayes and two touchdown passes from Tuna McCracken. Hannah McCracken and Eli Brashear both finished with both a touchdown reception and a touchdown run, while David Daigle added an extra point.
The Saints defense, which pitched a shutout, received interceptions from Hayes, Daigle, Charlie Halfacre and Morgan Horesh, with Horesh taking his to the house for a defensive touchdown.
The action continued Jan. 13 with three 14-17 division games. The Falcons defeated the Redskins 42-38, the Ravens edged the Buccaneers 28-27 and the Cardinals flew past the Eagles 46-21.
The Buccaneers rolled past the Bears 30-12 in Jan. 15 8-10 division action behind a huge game — four touchdowns — from Ashton Hoy. Hoy ran for a pair of touchdowns and was on the receiving end of two touchdown passes from Caleb O’Connor. Collin Breslin completed the scoring with an extra point on offense and recorded a safety on a quarterback sack on defense.
Jan. 16 rounded out youth flag football action for the week. The Chiefs opened the evening with a 14-12 victory over the Seahawks in 8-10 division action behind a pair of touchdown runs from Cole Pearson and a two-point conversion from Connor Allen.
Pearson and Cailyn Connor paced the defense with three flag pulls apiece in the victory.
Evan Christianson paced the Seahawk offensive attack with a touchdown run and a touchdown pass to Byron Law. Law also led the defensive effort with six flag pulls while Devon McGonigle added an interception in the loss.
Adult flag football moved into its second week with a bevy of games played on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
The 30-and-over division has six teams that play Thursday evenings. Though it’s early in the season, the Raiders and the Chargers have jumped to the top of the standings with matching 2-0 records. They are followed by the Chiefs and Packers, while Agnelli Pool & Spa Giants and Tyler’s Ice Cream Vikings bring up the bottom of the standings.
The 18-and-over division has eight teams led by the Saints and Slim’s Place Falcons with 2-0 records. The Giants, Sugar Beach Digital Patriots, Salty Printing Bengals and Sato Real Estate Rams follow with 1-1 records, while the Colts and Dolphins occupy the cellar.
There were four games played Jan. 14 starting with Salty Printing Bengals taking a 37-26 victory over Agnelli Pool & Spa Giants. The Bengals were paced by Rob Manderine’s 197 passing yards and four touchdown passes. Three of those went to Nick Sato, who finished with four catches for 89 yards while also adding a 25-yard touchdown run and a pair of two-point conversions to the victory.
Zach Schield led the Giants with 258 passing yards and four touchdown passes. Jason Mickan was his favorite target with nine catches for 108 yards and a touchdown, but Scott Elisio led the way with six catches for 123 yards, including three that went for touchdowns.
The second game of the evening saw the Falcons shut down the Colts by a 26-0 score. Ray Gardner had a great all-around game, running for 28 yards and two touchdowns while adding a 12-yard touchdown reception and an interception. Quarterback Don Purvis completed five of eight passes for 91 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the victory.
The Rams steamrolled the Patriots 34-14 in the third game of the night behind a strong game from Josh Sato. Sato passed for 77 yards while also catching two touchdown passes. Brandon Hartwig added a 35-yard touchdown run, a touchdown reception, an extra point and a pair of interceptions on defense.
The Patriots were led by Chad Woods, who had four receptions for 71 yards and a pair of touchdown catches. Woods also led the defense with five flag pulls and a quarterback sack that resulted in a safety.
The Saints destroyed the Dolphins by a 41-6 score behind 165 passing yards and six touchdown passes from Jonathan Moss. Matt Morgan led the way with three touchdown receptions and a pair of extra points, while Dustin Swain finished with two touchdown receptions and two extra points.
The Saints turned in a strong defensive effort that saw them intercept six passes, including three by Moss, two by Morgan and one by Swain.
Tim Shaughnessy led the Dolphins with 135 passing yards and a touchdown pass, but he was hurt by four interceptions. Caleb Roberts scored the lone touchdown while also passing for 37 yards. Andrew Turman and Roberts paced the Dolphin defense in the loss with four flag pulls each.
Horseshoe news
The team of Bill Wright and Bob Lee was the only one to manage a 3-0 pool-play record during Jan. 14 horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall horseshoe pits and were the day’s outright champs.
Jan. 17 action saw three teams emerge from pool play to battle for the day’s bragging rights. Bob Lee and Art Kingstad drew the bye into the finals and watched as Gene Bobeldyk strolled past Tim Sofran and Dom Livedoti by a 23-3 score to advance to the finals.
Bobeldyk stayed hot in the finals and walked to the winner’s circle with a 23-9 victory over Lee-Kingstad.
Play gets underway at 9 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warm ups begin at 8:45 a.m. Everyone is welcome to play.
Key Royale golf news
The ladies of Key Royale Club hosted a member/guest golf tournament Jan. 13 and had 46 participants in the nine-hole team scramble.
After the golf, all of the participants convened in the clubhouse for a delicious lunch prepared by Key Royale Chef Bill. Everyone enjoyed the lunch and the clever golf décor created by Cyd Humphries, Peggy Burch, Cathy Van Velzen and Kay Anderson.
Back to the golf. The team of Deb Wohlers, Debra Reuss, Sharon Tarras and Joy Detra earned first place the day’s bragging rights. Second place went to the team of Phyllis Roe, Margie Whittaker, Beatrice Friebe and Karen Zirzow. The team of Judy Crowe, Cindy Witte, Heather Blane and Virginia Freeman took third place.
Cindi Mansour won the longest drive by a guest while Karen MacKenzie won closest to the pin for a guest.
Phyllis Roe had the longest drive among the members while Heather Blane was closest to the pin for the members.
Putting contest winners were Liz Lang, Gloria LaTorre, Roz Scheffer and Peg Barnett.