Buccaneers 'D' dominates in NFL Flag Football
by Kevin Cassidy
Islander Correspondent
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| Alex Burgess hauls in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Buccaneer quarterback Chris Pate during Anna Maria Island Community Center NFL Flag Football action. |
In early summer NFL Flag Football action for the Anna Maria Island Community Center league, the Buccaneers defeated the Panthers 46-28 June 9 behind a sterling defensive effort that saw them intercept Panther passes on three straight second-half possessions and a potent offense that spread the ball around to six different receivers.
The Bucs jumped out to an 8-0 lead thanks to a 15-yard interception return for a touchdown by Chris Pate. Moments later, Trevor Bystrom swooped in on Panther Matt Bauer to sack him for a safety. The Bucs extended its lead to 14-0 when quarterback Sean Price and Pate hooked up on a 60-yard stop-and-go pass reception for a touchdown.
The Panthers fought back to tie the score on a pair of 40-yard touchdown runs from Bauer and a two-point reception by Wyatt Hoffman.
The Panther defense received a much-needed stop on the Bucs and then capitalized when quarterback Blake Rivers connected with Hoffman on a 30-yard touchdown pass to take a 20-14 lead into the half.
The Bucs wasted no time in erasing its deficit when Pate opened the second half with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Landesberg to tie the score at 20-20.
The Buccaneer defense stepped up and got the ball back for the offense three plays later when Bystrom stepped in front of Panther receiver Hoffman for an interception that he returned 25 yards to the Panther 15-yard line. Three plays later, Pate hit Landesberg with a 15-yard TD pass for a 26-20 lead.
The Panthers tried to rally, moving past midfield on a leaping 30-yard catch for a first down by Bauer, but Kyle Parsons intercepted Rivers on the next play to turn the ball over to the Bucs. The Bucs quickly struck on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Pate to Parsons that made the score 32-20 and pretty much put the game out of reach.
The Panthers gained 10 yards on a Bauer pass to Chandler McClung, but Alex Burgess stepped up and intercepted Bauer and returned it 20 yards to the Panther 15-yard line. Pate hit Burgess with a 15-yard TD pass on the next play to ice the game with Price topping it still when he hit Pate with a two-point pass for a 40-20 lead.
The Panthers and the Bucs traded touchdowns on their next two possessions. Hoffman caught a 40-yarder from Rivers and Nicole Botero caught the two-point conversion to pull to within 40-28, but Pate methodically drove the Bucs down the field and finished it off with a 25-yard TD pass to Landesberg to complete the scoring.
Pate finished with five TD passes, a touchdown reception, an interception return for a touchdown and a two-point reception to lead the Bucs on offense, while Landesberg finished with three touchdown catches.
The Panthers were led by Rivers who had three touchdown passes and Bauer who had two touchdown runs in the loss.
Texans 46, Titans 14
Joel Hart scored four touchdowns and teammate Dean Salati had two interceptions returned for touchdowns as the Texans rolled past the Titans during June 9 AMICC Junior Division NFL Flag Football action. Gabriella Berlanti added one touchdown reception and Henry Bernet had a pair of two-point conversions for the winning Texans.
Adam Hart led the Titans with two touchdowns and a two-point conversion in the loss.
Horseshoe news
The much-needed rain from Tropical Storm Barry was the ultimate winner of the June 2 horseshoe action as play was halted for the first time in nearly 300 consecutive competitions.
Then it was business as usual on June 6 with 11 players battling it out for bragging rights for the day. Longtime Islander Jimmy Spencer and Ron Pepka were the only team to record a 3-0 record and were the day’s outright winner. Debbie Rhodes won the playoff for second place by defeating the team of Tom Rhodes and Sam Samuels by a 23-20 score.
Play gets under way at 9 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m. followed by random team selection. There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.
AMICC Flag Football Schedule
(All games played at Holmes Beach field)
Youth Division (ages 12-15)
June 157 p.m.Panthers vs. Buccaneers
June 187 p.m.Panthers vs. Raiders
Junior Division (ages 8-11)
June 136 p.m.Texans vs. Titans
June 156 p.m.Chiefs vs. Titans
June 186 p.m.Chiefs vs. Texans
Pee Wee Division (ages 5-7)
June 146 p.m.Colts vs. Eagles |
