John Jay Flag Football Comes Up Short Against Carmel

CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - On Monday, April 15, John Jay flag football traveled to Carmel, and it didn’t take long for the more experienced program to reveal.

After the Wolves went out following three plays, Carmel ran three of their own and ended up in the end zone. The Rams didn’t let up either and scored the next 33 points in the 40-13 victory. But in their first season, Coach Joe Candarelli believes his girls are on point.

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“The attitude of the girls is awesome. They are enjoying their introduction to this sport, which is the goal this year,” he said, “From there, we can start to grow the program.”

As for the second possession, the Wolves looked like they had a good leg to stand on. Quarterback Jaime Bartley-Cohen went around the corner on a fake reverse to get past midfield and then cut her way through the middle for ten more.

Unfortunately, the girls got no further, and the Rams offense was ready to lock horns again. A few more plays and the home team had a 14-0 lead.

No movement on John Jay’s next possession and Carmel was no more forgiving. One play, a bomb to the far sideline, and John Jay trailed 20-0.

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The Wolves did get a stop on the Ram next possession, though. A sack by Olivia Casabona ended the drive, and on the next defensive effort, it looked like a respectable 20-0 score would hold into the second half.

But Carmel scored on fourth down, and with the lead growing to 40-0 in the second half, Candarelli admitted his offense has kind of been caught in no man’s land. “There’s a big gray area there,” he referred to the blocking rules.

They dictate that blocks are supposed to be on par with a screen in basketball. “That’s how we’ve been practicing it,” he said.
Some refs, on the other hand, allow for more aggressive play, and the change up can hurt on game day. “We have to adjust,” said the coach.

Before exiting, John Jay made do nonetheless. Casabona went right for nine yards and the QB darted left across midfield. First down, Bartley-Cohen engaged the spin cycle to the 13 and then went through the middle for the score.

After completing the extra point through the air, John Jay got one more chance following another defensive stop. Casabona rumbled down the sideline to the 28, and Bartley-Cohen got 20 more to the one.

In for the touchdown, Candarelli praised the late game heroics. “That’s something we can build off,” he concluded.

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