The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE 2016 Bahamas Flag Football League season produced a pair of new championship winners at the Winton Rugby Centre on Sunday.

The A Sure Win Warhawks won the men’s title while the Summit Academy Ravens won the women’s title in the season finale. Both were first time wins for the respective clubs.

In their first year of existence, the Warhawks claimed the title after they defeated the Avengers 12-0.

Safety Thomas Wildgoose was named the MVP after he caught two interceptions, one of which he returned 60 yards for a touchdown.

The Warhawks capped off a 9-1 pennant winning season, led by their defence which recorded their third shutout of the season.

After a defensive stand on the first Avengers possession the Warhawks overcame several early miscues to score on their opening drive.

Warhawks quarterback Phil Rolle connected with lead receiver Jamal Butler for a key third and long conversion to keep the drive alive.

Butler was stopped short of the goal line but Rolle would eventually score on a quarterback scramble several plays later.

Wildgoose’s interception return came on the ensuing Avengers possession as he outraced several would be defenders to give his team a 12-0 lead.

Avengers quarterback Lemon Gorospe threw four interceptions on the day, two caught by Wildgoose, another from Rodwell Knowles and a fourth by Theo Knowles.

The final pick by Theo Knowles brought an end to the best Avengers drive of the afternoon which eventually stalled near the goal line.

Wildgoose and fellow Warhawks defensive captain Peter Wilson Jr won the title on the field just moments after they led the Ravens to the title from the sideline as coaches.

The women’s title was finished with much more drama as the game was decided by a much debated flag pull call at the goal line as time expired.

The Ravens clinched the 12-7 win when Anthonya Knowles grabbed the flag of Wildcats receiver Sasha Ferguson just before she was able to score.

Both teams celebrated thinking the play resulted in their favour, but after the referees conferred, the call on the field was that Ferguson was stopped short of the score before her momentum carried her into the endzone.

Disha Fraser was named the game’s MVP for her two touchdown catches on the afternoon.

The Wildcats scored on their opening possession of the game when quarterback Heather Knowles threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Ferguson.

They added a successful conversion on a catch by Dyaria Knowles to take an early 7-0 lead.

The Ravens offence struggled for much of the half before quarterback Natasha Whyms connected with receiver Christabelle Izevbizua on a short slant which she took 50 yards down to the goal line.

Whyms threw her first touchdown of the day on a wheel route to Fraser to cut the deficit 7-6 headed into the half.

In the second half Whyms connected with Fraser from a deep pass down the sideline for a touchdown and a 12-7 lead.

The Wildcats mounted a comeback effort on their last drive when they drove nearly the length of the field as Knowles connected on 4-5 passes but their rally fell a yard short.

Both BFFL champions will now look toward the national championships in Grand Bahama July 29 to August 1 when they will face the champions out of the Grand Bahama Flag Football League.