Sharks upset Wolverines going into playoffs

(GCFFA): Last Saturday, a competitive spirit was felt at the final games of the regular season for the Dart Women’s League organized by the Grand Cayman Flag Football Association. The Lone-Star Jager Monsters ensured their standings in playoffs with their win against the Pythons, and for the first time this season, Hammerheads Lady Sharks kept the previously undefeated Domino’s Pizza Wolverines in deep waters. The first game saw Lone-Star Jager Monsters with a 12-0 win over the Pythons.Michelle McTaggart, who started off the season as quarterback and then went to play receiver for a few weeks, has returned again as the starting QB for her team. Still trying to find her throwing groove, McTaggart threw a fifty percent average with 10 out of 20 passes completed.

Leading on offense for the Jager Monsters was Christine Bisnauth, who had four receptions, including one for a spectacular 60 yard run that resulted in a touchdown.  Melanie Lewis was McTaggart’s nextfavourite target, receiving three balls including one touchdown catch.  Renee Thompson, Christina Hefner and Kristin Kipp each caught a ball on offense as well.

The Monster’s roared on defense, as many of the players saw much defensive action. Leading on defense was Christina Ravdas with four tackles, followed by Kayleigh Jennings, Thompson and Tricia Miller each with three tackles. Kipp had two tackles and Bisnauth, Lewis, Colleen Cummings and Monique Roberts each came up with one tackle. Roberts also came up with an interception, and Jennings and Miller sacked the Pythons’ quarterback twice.

With the final game of the season wrapped up, the Pythons were unable to secure a win which may have placed them in the playoffs. Although the team is made up with mostly rookie players, they showed a tremendous learning curve and competitive ability as the season progressed. Quarterback Carrie Barnett completed only five of 15 pass attempts, and Carla Martin and Violet Powell-Whittaker also tried to step in as quarterbackwith one foiled attempt each.

Tajae Grey led the Pythons’ offense with three receptions, followed by Carla Martin with two.  The usual running plays the Pythons adapt for runner Sheyla Torres did not take flight against the Monsters, who played aggressive defensive against the Pythons.

Leading on defense for the Pythons was Karina Chiari, who came up with four tackles. She is followed by Grey, who also had a great game on defense with three tackles and one interception. Powell, Torres and Barnett each had two tackles to add, and Powell also sacked the Monsters’ quarterback one time. Barnett also came up with the second interception for the Pythons.

In the second game of the day, the Lady Sharks showed their predatory nature, coming up with an 8-6 win over Wolverines. Quarterback for Lady Sharks, Bobeth O’Garro had great executions with 13 out of 18 passes completed, including one touchdown pass.

O’Garro’s favorite receiver was Scimone Campbell, who caught both the touchdown pass and two extra points. Campbell is also the well-deserved recipient for the GCFFA’s Offensive Player of the Year. Serena Yates, Lilia Connolly and Sophia Foster also received two passes each, and Maggie Ebanks and Katherine Maw contributed with one catch each.

On defense, the Lady Sharks circled around the Wolverines, blocking passes, halting running plays and allowing them only two advances past the 40yard marker. Dionne Anglin had another great game on defense, using her long limbs to snag flags and made four tackles. O’Garro follows her on defense with two tackles, and it was a dedicated team effort from Campbell, Yates, and Ebanks who added one tackle each. Yates also got through to the Wolverine’s quarterback, sacking her once.

For the Domino’s Pizza Wolverines, it wasn’t a lack of players returning back to school that led to their defeat, the receivers were simply dropping good passes from their quarterback Antoinette Lewis, ranked number one in the league. Lewis had an unusually rough game, with only 15 of 29 passes completed, and one touchdown pass thrown.

Alexandra Terry reached out for a well-placed ball in the end-zone, achieving the lone score for Wolverine’s, and also had three more receptions to her game. Benecia Thompson also caught four balls, followed by Dionne Whittaker and Shamar Ennis with two catches each. Nadisha Walters and Schmarrah McCarthy also added to the game with one reception each on offense.

The Wolverines did better on defense, making crucial stops close to the end-zone, which stopped the Lady Sharks from adding to their lead. Shinette Rhoden had her best game yet with five tackles, as did Ennis, also with five tackles. Jahzenia Thomas added four, followed by McCarthy and Agueda Broderick with three tackles, Alexandria Saintvil with two, and Eleanor Berry with one tackle. Broderick also sacked the Lady Sharks quarterbacktwice, and Thomas contributed with another sack. Depending on how both teams do in this Saturday’s playoffs, they are likely to meet each other in the finals if both teams play up to the same form they have shown all season.

Playoffs begin this Saturday, 24 September at the Camana Bay Field at 10am. Hammerheads Lady Sharks, currently in second position, will be playing the third-seeded Lone-Star Jager Monsters in the first game. The top-seeded Domino’s Pizza Wolverines will face Androgroup Killa-Panthers in the second game. The winner of each game will meet in the finals, the following Saturday.