The third game was a charm for East Hampton’s varsity flag football team. The girls picked up their first win of the year at home on March 31 — a 50-0 rout of Southampton.
“It feels great. That’s probably our highest-ever scoring game since we started the program, so I’m super proud of how they played today,” Erin Gillott, their head coach, said. “We’re growing, we’re learning, we’re running the ball more, and the chemistry is there.”
The Bonackers got out to a strong start, up 18-0 after the first quarter and 37-0 at the half. By the third quarter, they were up 50-0 and never looked back.
The key to their success? “We were all talking and communicating with each other,” said Mary Jo Corron, a senior and team captain who had six flag pulls in the game.
“We had an amazing turnout,” said Lilah Brown, a junior and a team captain who had a touchdown and a flag pull. “I think this game really kept our spirits up, and I think winning this game really set us on the right track and helped us put the right foot forward for the rest of the season.”
Callie Amicucci, a freshman, led the scoring with four touchdowns, showing the importance of the new junior varsity program the high school added this year.
“It’s so great to see the program grow and see the freshmen getting really into it,” said Evie Geehreng, a senior and a team captain who had a touchdown and nine flag pulls against Southampton. “It’s so nice to get to play with the younger girls and get them to develop the sport, because the earlier you start, the better you’ll be.”
While the Bonackers kept the Mariners scoreless, they still worked hard for the win and were impressed with Southampton’s talent in their first year of play. “They’re a very good team,” said Denisse Vinansaca, a senior captain who had two touchdowns and nine flag pulls. “They have good players and I know they’re going to do better and win a lot of games. That was a tough game, actually.”
A note for our readers who are new to flag football: A flag pull is the equivalent of a tackle in traditional football. If either of the ball carrier’s two flags are pulled, the play is stopped.
The only thing stopping East Hampton flag football right now is spring break. The girls will return to their home field for their next game, against Smithtown Christian, at 4:30 p.m. on April 14.
