With four teams remaining in the Section VII girls flag football playoffs, it may come as a surprise that the two undefeated teams both lost in the semifinals. Saranac High School, which did not lose a single flag football in its program-first loss, suffered its first loss in a 33-18 defeat to Northeastern Clinton Central High School in the sectional semifinals. The Cougars were overjoyed after losing to Saranac twice in both regular-season meetings. “We are all so excited, we can’t believe it,” said NCCS quarterback Bailee LaFountain. “Despite our slow start in the first half, we didn’t give up.”The Spartans had the hot start, finishing the first half up 18-6 with a pair of passing touchdowns from McHenna Brown and a long rushing touchdown on a read option to Paige Ubl. However, the Cougars made the necessary second half adjustments outscoring the Spartans 27-0 in the next 25 minutes of play. On offense it was all about targeting Desiree Dubois, who scored both of her two receiving touchdowns in the second half and secured catches on timely third and fourth down conversions. NCCS made sure to have Dubois line up away from the taller defenders on the opposite side of the field, putting in her spots to win jump ball opportunities with her height, shake slower defenders with her speed and agility, along with well-thrown passes from LaFountain. “I think just reading the field and trusting Bailee (LaFountain) every single play,” Dubois said. “We all just have a good mentality; we can read the field really well. We made changes that would help us in the second half.”LaFountain finished with four total touchdowns, passing for three and rushing for one. She emphasized that Dubois was a major part of her success on offense due to the strong chemistry the two share on and off the field. “We can read each other so well,” LaFountain said. “We’ve only played flag football for two years, but just the connection on and off the field. I knew she was my go-to girl, and she would come through.”NCCS’ defense was also solid shutting down the short quick passes and playing the outside on Saranac’s read option attempts and looked to keep Brown inside the pocket to prevent her from picking up big gains on scramble runs. Brynn Hite was key for the Cougars’ defense, snagging a pick-six to give NCCS the 26-18 lead and then another interception in the game’s final seconds. Beekmantown also defeated Division II’s undefeated squad, Moriah High School, with a late-game score from Payton Parliament. Her rushing touchdown sealed the deal in a tight defensive battle, leading to the 12-6 win. This sets up a third meeting between Beekmantown and NCCS in the first-ever girls flag football Section VII championship. NCCS took the first matchup in Section VII’s opening night in a dominant 35-13 win, but in the second contest, Beekmantown pulled off another late comeback effort to win 26-22.The start time for the championship is at 7:30 p.m. at Ausable Valley High School.
With four teams remaining in the Section VII girls flag football playoffs, it may come as a surprise that the two undefeated teams both lost in the semifinals.
Saranac High School, which did not lose a single flag football in its program-first loss, suffered its first loss in a 33-18 defeat to Northeastern Clinton Central High School in the sectional semifinals. The Cougars were overjoyed after losing to Saranac twice in both regular-season meetings.
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“We are all so excited, we can’t believe it,” said NCCS quarterback Bailee LaFountain. “Despite our slow start in the first half, we didn’t give up.”
The Spartans had the hot start, finishing the first half up 18-6 with a pair of passing touchdowns from McHenna Brown and a long rushing touchdown on a read option to Paige Ubl.
However, the Cougars made the necessary second half adjustments outscoring the Spartans 27-0 in the next 25 minutes of play. On offense it was all about targeting Desiree Dubois, who scored both of her two receiving touchdowns in the second half and secured catches on timely third and fourth down conversions.
NCCS made sure to have Dubois line up away from the taller defenders on the opposite side of the field, putting in her spots to win jump ball opportunities with her height, shake slower defenders with her speed and agility, along with well-thrown passes from LaFountain.
“I think just reading the field and trusting Bailee (LaFountain) every single play,” Dubois said. “We all just have a good mentality; we can read the field really well. We made changes that would help us in the second half.”
LaFountain finished with four total touchdowns, passing for three and rushing for one. She emphasized that Dubois was a major part of her success on offense due to the strong chemistry the two share on and off the field.
“We can read each other so well,” LaFountain said. “We’ve only played flag football for two years, but just the connection on and off the field. I knew she was my go-to girl, and she would come through.”
NCCS’ defense was also solid shutting down the short quick passes and playing the outside on Saranac’s read option attempts and looked to keep Brown inside the pocket to prevent her from picking up big gains on scramble runs. Brynn Hite was key for the Cougars’ defense, snagging a pick-six to give NCCS the 26-18 lead and then another interception in the game’s final seconds.
Beekmantown also defeated Division II’s undefeated squad, Moriah High School, with a late-game score from Payton Parliament. Her rushing touchdown sealed the deal in a tight defensive battle, leading to the 12-6 win.
This sets up a third meeting between Beekmantown and NCCS in the first-ever girls flag football Section VII championship. NCCS took the first matchup in Section VII’s opening night in a dominant 35-13 win, but in the second contest, Beekmantown pulled off another late comeback effort to win 26-22.
The start time for the championship is at 7:30 p.m. at Ausable Valley High School.
