SECTION IV FLAG FOOTBALL: OWEGO OFFENSE, DEFENSE DOMINATE IN PLAYOFF OPENER (2023-05-24)
By TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
OWEGO — The Owego flag football team was grabbing interceptions like kids snatching candy from the street during a holiday parade as the Indians routed Susquehanna Valley, 53-0, in the Section IV quarterfinals Tuesday evening.
Owego head coach Rusty Virkler summed up his team’s performance perfectly.
“It was awesome,” he said. “Defense did a really good job. Again, everybody contributed, which is awesome to see and it's good momentum for Thursday.”
With the Indians already leading 28-0, Jordan Greeno gathered in a pass deflected by Brooklyn Gaurnier and raced 32 yards to paydirt to give Owego a 34-0 advantage less than five minutes into the second half.
It was the first of two pick sixes for the Indians, who had five total thefts on the evening.
“We practiced catching the ball and sometimes it doesn't go too well, but tonight it worked out for us and I'm happy it paid off,” Virkler said.
Elizabeth Reigle closed out the scoring with a 41-yard pick six with about 4 ½ minutes remaining in the game.
“The defense, I think we had a couple picks, one pick six and it was (Elizabeth) Reigle. This is her first year, so that was really cool to see, and she was really excited and it was awesome to watch,” Virkler said.
Greeno got the scoring parade started with a 4-yard TD run on the Infians’ game-opening possession. Kylie Grippen threw to Maddie Bennett for the PAT and a 7-0 lead at 21:07.
Jaelynne Lovell’s sack helped stop Sus Valley’s first drive. Seven plays later, Gripped found Bennett for a 31-yard TD strike. Grippen’s keeper on the PAT made it 14-0 at 11:35.
Bella Silvestri broke up a fourth-down pass on the Sabers’ next possession and Cadia Fain scored on an 8-yard run. The Grippen-to-Bennett PAT pass made it 21-0 with 7:19 to go in the half.
Greeno reeled in a short pass on Owego’s final possession of the half and Grippen threw to Olivia Dodge for the PAT, giving the Indians a 28-0 cushion at intermission.
Following the Greeno pick six which made it a 34-0 game, Alex Aubel returned an interception 28 yards to the Sus Valley three.
On the next play, Grippen threw to Sophia Palladino for a score. The PAT attempt failed, leaving the score 40-0 with 19:48 left in the game.
The Sabers managed just seven yards on the next three plays, then Lexi Cheeseman snagged an interception on fourth down.
Amelia Sherman scored on a 9-yard run at 11:53 and Gripped threw the PAT to Eliana Vasquez.
Sus Valley finally connected for a big pass play, 31 yards to the Owego 26, but Sherman intercepted the next pass deep in Indian territory to seal up the shutout.
Grippen went 14-for-19 for 129 and four TDs.
“Grippen's doing a phenomenal job,” Virkler said. “She's reading the defense well and she gives our receivers chances. And Maddie Bennett made some unbelievable catches. It was awesome.”
Bennett had five receptions for 67 yards and Greeno caught four more for another 30. Saylor Ayers, Emma Casterline, Cadia Fain, Sophia Palladino and Eliana Vasquez got their hands on aerials as well.
On the ground, the Indians chalked up 119 yards with Aubel, Ayers, Bennett, Cheeseman, Fain, Greeno, Grippen, Lexi Herceg, Sherman and Sofia Silvanic getting touches.
Sus Valley posted 153 yards total offense, 122 coming on the ground, but the Indians had a dozen tackles in which the Sabers gained just three yards or less.
Owego (7-2) plays at Norwich in the semifinals Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The Indians won their previous meeting, 21-0.
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PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.
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