Western avenges last year’s title-game loss
The Western girls flag football team entered the Class 2A state finals motivated to avenge a crushing loss to defending champion Newsome from a year ago. Western made a statement to complete an unbeaten season as they rallied from behind with an impressive second half for a 34-14 victory against Newsome in the Class 2A state championship at Mandarin High School in Jacksonville on Saturday.
After falling 20-19 to Newsome in the state final last year, Western seized the opportunity in the rematch to capture its first state championship in school history.
Western erased a 14-0 deficit in the first quarter and scored 34 unanswered points.
“We felt one got away last year and it was that feeling driving us all season to get back here,” Western coach James O’Brien said. “We were down against them early last year and then took the lead and just did not finish. We were stunned early again and they had a good game plan. We were never going to be counted out and the girls were able to settle in.”
Western sophomore Tamara Elliott fired a touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Nandi Ramessar to cut the deficit to 14-6.
Newsome (20-2) led 14-12 late in the second quarter and were driving deep into Wildcats territory, but senior Veronica McBride stepped up with a game-changing play with an interception at the goal line.
After trailing by two points at halftime, Western pulled away in the third and had a 27-14 advantage entering the fourth.
“We have a really talented team and we showed our athleticism,” O’Brien said. “We played great on defense. The girls showed humility and worked hard all season to win a championship.”
Western senior quarterback Sydney Ford delivered a strong performance in the second half to lift the Wildcats. Ford passed for three touchdowns and rushed for another score in the contest.
“We were off to a slow start, but it’s how you finish the game,” Ford said. “This has been our goal all season to win a state title. We have great team chemistry and we are so close with each other. We were really motivated and it’s an unbelievable feeling.”
Ramessar scored two touchdowns and McBride and Elliot both added touchdown catches.
Western reached the state title after cruising to a 34-13 victory against Fleming Island in the state semifinal. Ford passed for five touchdowns in the victory.
Spanish River (18-3), which reached the Class 2A state semifinal for the first time in school history, squandered a fourth-quarter lead as they fell 21-19 to Newsome.
Spanish River junior quarterback Gianna Pacitti passed for three touchdowns in the loss.
Mya Quinn and Kaitlyn Ruiz both scored in the first half as the Sharks led 13-7 at halftime.
The Sharks trailed after three quarters before jumping ahead in the fourth after Pacitti fired a scoring pass to Lauren Pijuan. Newsome had the go-ahead score with just under two minutes remaining.
Spanish River won the district title for the second consecutive season and its first regional title in school history. Pacitti set a school record for touchdown passes in a single season and Quinn set a school record for interceptions.
“I thought we played well,” Spanish River coach Andrew Immler said. “We had a big turnover early in the game. We gave them a short field twice. The points off turnovers and being unsuccessful on extra points was the difference. It’s a special group who worked extremely hard. We will miss our seniors and we have so many girls who contributed. I am really proud of our team.”