No Flags Given Advances with Win Over Cosmic Charlies

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The summer dwindling down, the NY Female Flag Football League playoffs are here, and No Flags Given lined up versus the Cosmic Charlies. At Mahopac High School on July 30, a 13-6 game was shaping up as a fierce back and forth with the cosmic thing knocking on the door. But Amanda Saulean had other ideas when Lisa Gillis threw to the goal line.

“She jumped the route,” said Krystal Council of her North Salem teammate and making the sideline grab turned into a pick six that led to a 28-19 No Flags victory.

Gillis did get her team down the field to open the game, though. First, she hit Marisa Lieberman for a first down at midfield, but the drive ended on a completion at the five to Nicole O’Connor. 

Turned over on downs, No Flags did a similar number on their opening drive. On a fling across midfield, Saulean gave Kayla McDonough her first completion by winning the tightly contested sideline play. Not good enough, a pair of incompletions set up fourth down, and the drive ended on Anna Wroclawski’s reception at the five.

Unfortunately for Charlie, the next drive wasn’t as even up. Margaret O’Kane elevated at midfield and came down with a midfield interception.  

The tall defender/receiver wasn’t done either. After Council reached high for a reception over the middle, O’Kane found herself open in the corner of the end zone, and the TD reception was definitely not by accident. “It’s a lot of footwork,” said the Mahopac resident. 

The conversion then went to Wroclawski, and the one point play had the Mt. Kisco resident reveling in the opportunity. “I love seeing the ball like a torpedo coming at you, full speed and you see your name on it,” the receiver exuded.

Undeterred, Gillis geared up. First the QB hit Lieberman shy of midfield, and the receiver was definitely not put off when the wealth was spread  to Mika McLane for the ensuing first down. “She’s really fair, passing the ball to everyone,” said Lieberman.

Back around, Gillis’ roll right went all the way across the field to the left corner of the end zone, and had Lieberman describing the success of her harried flight plan. “It’s a lot of chaos, a lot of confusion and a lot of running,” said the Katonah receiver.

No extra point, the one point game went to the second half, where No Flags didn’t wait to get the drop.  On the first play, McDonough took her time in the back field, and when O’Kane appeared on the sideline, the quarterback was appreciative of the receiver’s tall bullseye. “She’s a great target,” said the Golden's Bridge resident.

A play later, McDonough converted a third and one by rolling left for the first down, and two plays later, O’Kane sat perched again. All alone in the left corner of the end zone, she easily came down with the balloon for a 13-6 lead.

At 18:50, Cosmic Charlies seemed up to the task. After Lieberman took the hand off a five yard gain, she received ten yards short of the midfield first down marker, and then the game was primed to be tied. 

McLane caught a pass in traffic and got behind the defense with only the end zone in front. Instead,  she thought her flag was pulled and held up. No Flags got the tackle at the ten, and two incomplete passes in a row made it fourth down.

In position, Saulean had the read. “I saw the ball coming, stepped in front and ran all the way,” said the cornerback.

The extra point good, Cosmic Charlies didn’t let the abrupt turn off events get them down. “We don’t know any other speed than 0 and 100 miles per hour,” said Gillis, and on the next play, Lieberman ran under the second of her three touchdown catches with 11:30 left in the game.

Unfortunately, the margin remained eight on the failed conversion, and No Flags continued the momentum. On the back of their quarterback, she completed passes to Wroclawski, O’Kane and the two more to Council had the receiver gushing with appreciation. “She has a good eye and a good arm, and she shares the ball,” said the gritty catcher.

So ten yards out, No Flags left the clincher to last. After two incomplete passes, Council reached low for the pass over the middle and credited the open space to Deja Vu and vision. “It’s just repetition and making sure our quarterback can see me,” she clarified. 

Of course, Cosmic wasn’t ready to return to zero.  On second down, Gillis threw another bomb and Lieberman was there again. But 2:49 remaining was not enough to make up the eight point difference.

Four plays, the game was over but not the season. “We’re going to kick butt and win,” Saulean concluded.

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