The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@ttibunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Flag Football League (BFFL) playoffs got underway this past weekend at the Winton Rugby Field.

The day featured games between the Spectrum Assassins versus the Fidelity/Money Maxx Phoenix Fire, the Lady Avengers battled on the field against the Bamboo Shack Lady Jaguars. And the lone men’s matchup saw the Dolphin Express Hornets take on the Caro Contractors Avengers.

Despite the gloomy weather, three teams ultimately advanced to the next round while the remaining three were sent home.

Game One

Although the skies were gray, the fifth-seeded Spectrum Assassins were no match for the fourth-seeded Phoenix Fire. The latter bested their opponents 14-0.

The Phoenix Fire opened up the bout with a 6-0 lead over the Assassins in the opening quarter of the playoffs. After that point of the game, both teams remained scoreless going into the second half.

Following some miscommunication on the defensive end by the Assassins, they tried to get a score on the board in the second half but their chances were once again thwarted by the Phoenix Fire.

Meanwhile, the winning team scored again within the 20-yard line.

Ultimately, the Assassins threw in the towel with under eight minutes remaining in the game solidifying the win for the Phoenix Fire. The team will now look to face the undefeated and pennant-winning Paradise Games Wildcats. Jayson Clarke, head coach of the Phoenix Fire, talked about Sunday’s win.

“My team even though we got the win we still underperformed with this being a holiday weekend we did not have a good practice week we just need to step up our game in preparation for next week which is when we play the number one seeded team,” Clarke said.

With the Wildcats hungry for a fourth straight BFFL title win, Clarke acknowledged that his team has an uphill battle ahead.

“We have a game plan and scheme that we are going to run that we think will be successful once we get the work in this week which we plan to do so we are going to add in some practices and get prepared to play,” he said.

Game Two

In game two of the day, the Bamboo Shack Lady Jaguars fell to the third-seeded Lady Avengers 27-0. The Avengers meant business from the start of the game as the team capped off the first half of play with a 13-0 lead on the Lady Jaguars. The theme of defensive dominance by the Lady Avengers continued throughout the second half of play as the team added another 14 points to their total while keeping the Jaguars scoreless. They booked their ticket to play the second-seeded Sands Passion Fruit Hawks next week Sunday.

Phylicia Romer, assistant coach of the Lady Avengers, talked about the dominant defensive win en route to next week’s flag football action.

“We are always grateful for a good game. The Jaguars are an exceptional team they played with incredible heart this entire season so it was definitely a win that we are grateful for but we also want to show respect to them and congratulate them on making it this far as well,” she said.

Romer added that the team’s strategy was to stay honest, staying clean due to some previous issues with referee calls, and only answering back with points on the scoreboard.

Game Three

In the final game of the day, it was a competitive win-or-go home matchup between the Dolphin Express Hornets and the defending champions Caro Contractors Avengers. The game could not be decided in regulation as both teams scored 20 apiece. However, in overtime the Avengers reeled off a 22-21 victory over the Hornets sending them home while booking their trip to the next round.

The flag football playoffs will continue next week Sunday 1:10pm at the Winton Rugby Field as teams carve out their path to the Flag Football Finals.