Underdogs compete for Playoff spots

(GCFFA): Only three weeks remain in the regular season of the Dart Women’s League under the Grand Cayman Flag Football Association and the underdogs are scrambling to secure their spot in the playoffs. One of the most anticipated rematches of the season took place last Friday night at the Camana Bay Field with the Zulu Warriors looking for a repeat win against the Burger King Wolverines. The second time around however, Wolverines didn’t succumb to the Warriors’ spirit as they had a convincing win with a final score of 32-6.

Quarterback for Wolverines, Antoinette Lewis, had one of her best passing games of the season, completing 15 of 23 pass attempts. Lewis got some relief as Alex Terry tried her chances at quarterback, completing three of eight pass attempts and utilizing her speed to run the ball down the field.
Terry also led the offense with six catches and rushed the ball for two touchdowns. Her second touchdown was gained by running the ball in as quarterback in the final 30 seconds of the game. Saneata Smith continues to be a stand-out offensive player in the league, having caught four balls that included one for a catch in the end-zone and one touchdown that she ran in. Carrie Barnett was instrumental with her four receptions, and Benecia Thompson caught a ball in the end-zone for conversion points.
After missing a few games, Shinette Rhoden seemed to return in even finer form as she led the defense with five tackles. Barnett also had three tackles and Terry had two. Jah Thomas and Natalee Dyke each had two sacks, and Smith caught an interception at the 10yard mark and ran the ball all the way in for a defensive touchdown.
Zulu Warriors struggled much in the first half of the game, but were able to make it on the scoreboard in the second half with Shamar Ennis catching a long ball and running in the team’s only touchdown.  Quarterback duties were shared between Jessica Pawlik and Dionne Whittaker. Whittaker started off the game completing one of three passes and Pawlik managed just ten of 24 pass attempts, with one interception thrown.
Too many low balls and pressure from the defense was the biggest problem for Warriors’ offensive approach. Maggie Ebanks saw the most action on offense, catching five balls, followed by Shamar Ennis with three.
Adrianna Christian had an impressive game on defense, leading her team with four tackles and one sack. Wendy Torres also had four tackles, followed by Agueda Blake with three. Tanjana Campbell had two sacks and Maggie Ebanks knocked down many balls in the end-zone, preventing the Wolverine’s from furthering their lead.
That same evening, the Hot 104.1FM Cheetahs tried their best to improve their chances at making the playoffs as they faced Maples Bliss, but the uneventful game ended in a tie with neither team scoring.
Rough is the best way to describe Cheetahs’ offense, as quarterback Jamesette Anglin completed a mere five of 16 pass attempts with two interceptions thrown. Tonia Ebanks-McLaughlin had a try as quarterback, but her one attempt was intercepted by Maples.
Ebanks-McLaughlin also caught two balls on offense, followed by Tracey Seymour, Jessica Richards and Trenny Nelson each with one reception. The Cheetahs will have to rethink their strategy and offensive line-up in order to secure their spot in the playoffs.
Defense managed to keep Cheetahs in the game, as Amanda Nelson led with six tackles. Sara Dixon had four tackles and one sack. Ebanks-McLaughlin and Anglin both had three tackles, and Anglin added an interception to her game, as did Seymour.  Kara Rankin also sacked Maples’ quarterback one time.
It certainly wasn’t a blissful game for Maples as they struggled to score just yards away from the end-zone against the Cheetahs’ defense. Quarterback Loletta Hanna completed just 10 of 24 pass attempts with two interceptions thrown, and Ellenor Berry managed only one completion of six pass attempts.
Maliqui Awe was instrumental on offense, leading with six catches, and followed by Jessica Maxwell and Marleena Smith with two catches each.
Somali Hall is proving herself as one of Maples’ most valuable players, gaining interceptions in nearly every game as she had two picks against the Cheetahs and two tackles. Berry also had an interception and tackle, and Diannera Whittaker came up with three tackles. Smith also added a sack to her defense.
Saturday morning’s games began with Androgroup Killa Panthers defeating Lone Star JagerMonsters 12-6. Christina Hefner returned as quarterback for the Killa Panthers, completing 12 of 23 pass attempts and two interceptions thrown. Lisa Malice had a quick turn with three pass attempts but was unable to connect with any receivers.
  Alicia Dixon and Malice had the most looks on offense, with each player catching four balls. Cassandra Bodden followed with three receptions, including one ball that she ran in for a touchdown and another ball caught in the end-zone for another touchdown.
  Killing the JagerMonsters on defense was Suyen Coe as she led the Killa Panthers with five tackles. Janique Samson had four tackles and one interception, and Bodden had three tackles as well as an interception. Denise Delpesh fought through the JagerMonsters’ blockers to add two sacks to her team’s strong defense.
  After changing their strategy, the Lone Star JagerMonsters are seeing a bit more progress with Erica Bosch at quarterback. The 2011 GCFFA Rookie of the Year completed 13 of 25 pass attempts with two interceptions thrown.
  Leading in receptions for the JagerMonsters was Renee Thompson with six catches, followed by Tricia Bell and Nickey Martinich with three catches each. It was the lone pass to Marline Williams in the end-zone that resulted in the JagerMonsters’ only touchdown.
  A tight defensive game by the JagerMonsters kept them in the game, as Renee Thompson led with four tackles, followed by Bosch, Bell and Tricia Miller with three tackles each. Bell and Miller each had an interception and Williams pushed through to gain four sacks on the Killa Panthers’ quarterback.
  Saturday’s second game saw Hammerheads Lady Sharks hang on to a win against Subway Stingers.  Quarterback Hong Nguyen didn’t throw many balls, but was on point completing 10 of 15 pass attempts.
  Rebecca Lewis led the offense with seven catches, and Lilia Conolly put the first touchdown on the scoreboard in the first half with her catch in the end-zone. Meghan Boccaccio added to the score with her catch in the end-zone for conversion points.
  Boccaccio was a star on defense with two tackles, one sack and two interceptions that led to a defensive touchdown. Jennifer Leggett had four tackles, Conolly had one interception and Nguyen added a sack.
  It was three interceptions thrown by the Subway Stingers’ quarterback that resulted in a loss of momentum for the team. Quarterback, Christina Pineda completed just eight of 16 pass attempts.
  Pineda spread the ball around on offense, hitting Anna Nyaundi, Joanne Remillard and Keisha Anglin two times each. Subway made it past the 40 yard line a couple of times, but were unable to march the ball down the field.
  Remillard had the defense on lock with five tackles, followed by Timisha Edwards, Kim Tyndale and Sophia Dilbert with two tackles each. Tyndale and Nikki Ebanks sped through blockers, gaining two sacks each, and Shivonne Mitchell and Edwards also had a sack each.
  The Dart Women’s League continues Friday evening at 8pm at the Camana Bay Field with Lone Star JagerMonsters against Subway Stingers on Field 1, and Zulu Warriors versus Maples Bliss on Field 2. Saturday starts off with Androgroup Killa Panthers against Hammerheads Lady Sharks at 10am, followed by Burger King Wolverines against Hot 104.1FM Cheetahs at 11am.