Top 6 advance to flag football playoffs

GCFFA): The regular season of the Dart Women’s League under the Grand Cayman Flag Football Association came to an end last week, with the Androgroup Killa Panthers positioned in the lead and favored to sweep the playoffs and swipe the championship from last year’s winners, Hammerheads Lady Sharks. Friday Night Lights began with Androgroup defeating Maples Bliss 19-6. Androgroup’s quarterback, Christina Hefner, kept her team on offense most of the time, dominating the field and completing 18 of 37 pass attempts.

Heather Roffey led her team to victory with two touchdown catches in the end-zone and three more receptions. Cassandra Bodden is looking to keep the lead as the offensive player of the year with nine catches, including one in the end-zone for a touchdown. Alicia Dixon, Gillian Roffey and Janique Samson each had two receptions, and Dixon caught a ball for conversion points.

It was a game of interceptions for Androgroup, as Heather Roffey, Bodden, Suyen Coe and Samson each had a pick on defense. Stephanie Watler led in tackles with three, followed by Bodden, Samson, Coe and Gillian Roffey with two tackles each.
  Maples Bliss had a rough game against Androgroup as quarterback Ellenor Berry was pressured into quick passes, completing just eight of 19 attempts with four interceptions thrown.

Isatou Sey and Diannera Whittaker each had three catches, followed by Sheyla Torres with two. Annique Holness ran a punt return all the way into the end-zone that resulted in the only points for Maples.

The Bliss defense had to work hard to stop Androgroup, but too much time on defense resulted in fatigue and mistakes. Somali Hall, the league’s leading defender, led in tackles with five, followed by Berry with four. Torres had two tackles and two sacks, and Marleena Smith also added a sack. Whittaker and Sey also contributed to defense with two tackles each.

Games continued on Friday night with Hammerheads Lady Sharks shutting out the Hot 104.1FM Cheetahs 18-0. Lady Sharks quarterback, Hong Nguyen was on her passing game completing 15 of 25 attempts with three interceptions thrown.

Judy Rivers had a reception in the end-zone for a touchdown, and Nguyen ran in the second. Jennifer Leggett’s interception resulted in a defensive touchdown for the Sharks. Rivers had three more catches, as did Rebecca Lucas and Lilia Conolly.

Leading on defense was Lucas with four tackles, followed by Rivers, Leggett and Ivana Powery with two each. Ivana Powery added a sack, and Sarrah Kidd also had a pickon defense. If Lady Sharks keep the momentum going, they just may face Androgroup in the finals to defend their championship title.

For a new team with 80% of the players who have never played flag football before, making the playoffs was a huge accomplishment for the Hot 104.1FM Cheetahs. Quarterback duties were shared between Jamesette Anglin, who completed six of 14 pass attempts and Tracey Seymour, who made one of five pass attempts and two interceptions thrown.

Jennifer Cotarelo led the offense with three catches, followed by Jessica Richards with two. Seymour, Sarafina McField and Darrah Jervis each had one reception. Although their defense is one of the best in the league, the Cheetahs need a major overhaul of their offensive strategy to make it anywhere in the playoffs.

Leading on defense was Amanda Nelson, with an incredible six sacks and three tackles.  Cotarelo also had three tackles, followed by Seymour and Tonia Ebanks-McLaughlin with two each. Sara Dixon also added three sacks, and picks were made by Ebanks-McLaughlin, Anglin and Cotarelo.

  Saturday morning was the last time Subway Stingers and the Lone Star JagerMonsters would see the field this season as both teams didn’t make the playoffs. Zulu Warriors beat the Subway Stingers 19-0, with quarterback Jessica Pawlik completing an impressive 30 of 42 pass attempts and one interception thrown.

  Leading the offense for Zulu was Maggie Ebanks with six catches, including one in the end-zone for extra points. Schmarrah McCarthy had her best game of the season, catching all three touchdown passes for the Warriors. Treveen Stewart caught five balls and gained major yards for her team by eluding Subway’s defense with her swift hip movements. Emily Vakauta continues to be a dominant force on offense, catching four balls, as did Agueda Blake.

  Zulu didn’t have to spend much time on defense, as Subway lacked any major progression. Tanjana Campbell had two sacks and an interception, and Ebanks added the next interception. Adrianna Christian also had a sack, and Blake had the most tackles with two.

  Despite finding out at the last minute the team wouldn’t have their quarterback to work with, Subway Stingers fought hard until the end. Anna Nyaundi, who never played QB before, stepped up for Subway, and completed four of eleven pass attempts with one interception thrown. Nikki Ebanks gave the position a try, completing no passes but one of her three attempts was also intercepted. Sophia Dilbert quarterbacked in the team’s last offensive possession, completing one of three passes.

  On offense, Joanne Remillard caught three passes, and Keisha Anglin followed with two catches.

 It was the hard work from their defense that kept Subway in the game. Nikki Ebanks had an outstanding game with eleven tackles, followed by Dionne Anglin and Nyaundi with four each. Remillard had three tackles and one interception. Shivonne Mitchell also slipped past Zulu’s blockers to add a sack to Subway’s defense.

  Although just missing the playoffs, the Lone Star JagerMonsters held the Burger King Wolverines to a tie game 6-6. Erica Bosch quarterbacked for Lone Star, completing 16 of 37 pass attempts and five interceptions thrown.

  Tricia Bell caught three balls, including the team’s only touchdown. Monique Roberts and Renee Thompson followed with four catches each. Melanie Lewis had three receptions on offense.

  Leading the defense was Thompson with six tackles and two interceptions. Bell also had a pick on defense. Devon Smith followed with four tackles. Roberts had two sacks and Laura Watler added one sack.

  The Burger King Wolverines, once favored as the team to win the championship this year, are in desperate need of their starting quarterback Antoinette Lewis to return to the field if they expect to be a threat in playoffs.

 Alex Terry continues to quarterback for the team, completing seven of 21 pass attempt with two interceptions thrown. Lewis did have a brief moment as quarterback, completing her only pass attempt.

Beneica Thompson had three catches including one in the end-zone for the Wolverines’ lone score. Carrie Barnett had three receptions, followed by Jah Thomas with two.

On defense, the Wolverines were relentless. Terry led the defense with five tackles. Alexandria Saintville and Shinette Rhoden each had four tackles and one interception. Terry also had two interceptions and Barnett had one. Despite a tight defense, the Wolverines need to gain back their starting quarterback to be a contender for the championship.

The Dart Women’s League takes a break this weekend as the top six teams prepare for the playoffs. The team’s that made the playoffs rank from the top as follows: Androgroup Killa Panthers, Hammerheads Lady Sharks, Burger King Wolverines, Zulu Warriors, Maples Bliss and the Hot 104.1FM Cheetahs. Playoffs begin at the Camana Bay Field on Friday, September 21st at 8pm with the Wolverine’s meeting the Cheetahs on field one and Maples Bliss versus Zulu Warriors on field two. Hammerheads Lady Sharks and Androgroup Killa Panthers have automatically advanced to the second round of playoffs.