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02/01/2017 11:00 PMPress release courtesy of Old Saybrook Parks and Recreation
On Jan. 13, the Old Saybrook Parks and Recreation Department held the fourth annual playoff tournament and championship game of its co-ed flag football league. The league, which played games during Friday night Teen Center hours from November through January, was free to all Old Saybrook students who are in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. Each team played one game a week for five weeks of regular season play. At the end of the regular season, there was a playoffs, and then the season finished off with the Super Bowl. The league included four teams: the Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, and Buffalo Bills. There were 40 participants in the league and a staff member was the quarterback for each team.
In the first game of the playoffs, the Minnesota Vikings took on the Buffalo Bills. The Vikings gave it their all, but in the end, the Bills won their way into the Super Bowl. At halftime, the two teams were tied up at 49. The Bills outscored the Vikings in the fourth quarter and came away with a 98-91 victory. Ryan Stratton led the Bills by throwing six touchdowns. Teammates Gannon Efinger, Kasey Root, and Andrew Julius each scored two TDs, followed by Jake Paviovich and John Witczak, who each had one TD. The Vikings were led by Jack Forrestt with seven touchdowns. Matt Rothman scored a pair of touchdowns, while Marlin Stavola, Peter Wisialowski, and Juliette Condulis each contributed one.
In game two of the playoffs, the Washington Redskins matched up against the Oakland Raiders in a close contest. The squads were tied up all the way until the end of the third quarter. Ultimately, the Raiders emerged with a seven-point win by the final of 91-84. Aedan Reynolds led the Raiders with four touchdowns. Felipe De Maura, Garrett Brady, and Mike Kapij each scored three touchdowns. Kapij had the only interception in the game. The Redskins were led by Brent Ling, who had four TDs. Cameron DeAngelo found the end zone three times. Nick Rothman and Nate Lacey had two TDs apiece, and William Potter also scored a touchdown.
In the third game of the night, the top-seeded Bills faced the No. 2 seed Raiders in the fourth annual Old Saybrook Parks and Recreation Flag Football League Super Bowl. Both teams gave it their best effort and, when all was said and done, the Bills walked off the field as champions by posting a 112-91 victory. For the Raiders, De Maura scored five TDs, Reynolds had three, Brady scored a pair of TDs, plus Kapij and Matthew Julius had one touchdown each. The Bills were led by Efinger with six touchdowns and one interception. Also crossing the goal line were Stratton with four touchdowns, Root and Jake Paviovich with two TDs apiece, and Julius with a touchdown, as well.
On Jan. 20, awards were given out to some of the top performers from throughout the season. Awards were presented to participants on the Raiders and Bills for winning the regular season and Super Bowl titles, respectively. Awards were also given out for Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. Jack Forrestt of the Vikings was acknowledged on offense, while the Raiders’ Max Monger received that distinction for defense. Ryan Stratton received 2017 Most Valuable Player Award and Gannon Effinger was named the Super Bowl MVP. Rookie of the Year went to Ethan Hajdas from the Vikings, while teammate Juliette Condulis was chosen as the recipient of the Coaches Award.
The Old Saybrook Parks and Recreation Department would like to give a big thanks to the league commissioners for making each week possible, as well as the players that participated each week. The department looks forward to continuing the league next fall with expanded rosters and more teams. For more info on Old Saybrook Parks and Rec, visit www.oldsaybrookrec.com.