Second Half Upends John Jay in Loss to Put Valley

Scroll down for photos and video

On Friday March 20, John Jay Flag Football opened the season at Contest Field and Jason Kuhlmann coached his first game for the Wolves. Only seven days to prepare, bringing a new system and a few key absences made for a tall order.

“They all add up to a 21-0 loss,” he lamented.

Still, the first half was definitely a battle. A 0-0 tie, both teams bent but didn’t break.

John Jay went on offense first, and Emilia Koronowski got out of the gate quickly. The running back took the handoff and danced seven yards to the 30.

Good for a first down, Gianna Pelosi was next with the two step. Adding a few twirls, the QB spun up the middle and reached the 38.

There, the Wolves stalled and were forced to punt. Put Valley took over, and Summer Scrocca started to do her thing. A reception and two runs put the visitors at the John Jay 31.

However, the Blue Tigers went no further, and the changeover had John Jay climb the ladder. Pelosi flung the ball upfield to the tallest woman on the field, and even though Lina Halaifonua didn’t pull the loft in, pass interference moved the ball to the 31.

A sack set the offense back six yards so Pelosi ran the spin cycle again. Nine yards to the 35, John Jay could not convert on third and five, and then turned the ball over on downs.

Great field position, Put Valley was subject to the bends again. After a first down, Chan registered a sack, and Pelosi got the interception with 10:29 remaining in the second.

So one way or two, Kuhlmann gushed over his prize Wolf. “She’s a model athlete,” he boasted.

Dropping back on the next play, Pelosi made good and hit Halaifonua in stride. Unfortunately, the tall receiver couldn’t hang on, but the coach definitely sees the possibilities. “We’re trying to work on the connection, so I think it could be good,” said Kuhlmann.

Two plays later, Kuhlmann saw a glimpse. Gianna lofted the ball over the top, and Halaifonua raised the roof with a sideline reception.

On the 27 with 8:32 left in the third, John Jay got the bends next. After Rachelle Linares ran up the middle for a first down, Put Valley returned the favor with an interception at 4:34.

At the seven, Put Valley almost gave it back pretty big when Chan appeared to have a pick six in her hands. A bobble instead, Scrocca came down with the ball and a first down.

Even so, Jay kept their heads up. Sofia Berisha had a sack, and Pelosi knocked down a big downfield pass play to get the ball back on downs.

30 yards away became 20 on Danielle Weisfeiner reception, and things looked possible with 49 seconds remaining. Scrocca thought otherwise, though. She got the interception and seemed to have a clear path to the end zone. That is until Pelosi made the touchdown saving pull.

Onto to the third, Put Valley came out strong. They drove all the way down the field. But a tackle by Pelosi and a Koronowski sack stopped the incursion at the seven.

Unfortunately for the Wolves the interception game also continued. Scrocca stepped into the pacing lanes and high stepped into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.

In at 5:01, Jay was unable to respond, and when the punt went up, Scrocca was there. She went all the way to the 19, and a play later, Blaze Connolly was in the end zone for a 14-0 lead.

Scrocca wasn’t done either. Another interception gave Put Valley the ball at the 15, and two plays later, Connolly was in the end zone again.

21-0, there was no coming back, but with good things still on display, Kuhlmann looked forward optimistically. “We’ll round into shape,” he concluded.

Click image for photos

Click image for video

Click Image for Photos vs Somers