Webster Thomas, Penfield jump into Section V flag football final
Webster Thomas defeated Webster Schroeder for a second time this season on Thursday, to move into one of the first Section V Flag Football championship games in history.
This matchup between Webster school district teams was a shutout.
The No. 2 seed Titans scored three touchdowns in the second half to defeat the No. 3 Warriors 19-0 in their Section V Class A sectional semifinal matchup at Webster Schroeder.
Webster Thomas is in the Section V Class A tournament final at 9 a.m. Saturday at Monroe Community College, where the Titans face the No. 4 Penfield Patriots. Penfield defeated Greece Arcadia 25-20, also on Thursday.
This is the first season Section V and other New York State Public High School Athletic Association members are crowning champions, after launching the sport on to fields in 2022.
Teams have seven players on offense, seven on defense.
The field is 80 yards from goal line to goal line.
The teams play two 25-minute halves.
There are no punt blocks, punt returns, kickoffs, or conversion kicks after touchdowns.
Possession after scores, including conversion run or pass attempts, goes to the other team and begin at that squad's 20-yard line, where it is first down and 20 yards to go.
Player of the game
Catherine Rogers, Webster Thomas running back: A senior who had a touchdown pass, set up another with a 20-yard run to the Schroeder 1-yard line and scored the final Webster Thomas points with a 4-yard run around the left side of the Schroeder defense.
Play of the game
A 3-yard catch by Kylie Gregory early in the second half to make the Titans the first team to reach the end zone. Gregory caught a pass from Rogers, who was running around in the Webster Thomas backfield after taking a lateral from Madalyn Kelly.
By the numbers
1 - Interception by Webster Thomas defensive back Madalyn Kelly that gave the Titans the ball at about the Webster Schroeder 25-yard line. This turnover set up Gregory's touchdown.
1 - Quarterback sneak for a touchdown by Madalyn Kelly, who extended the ball over the goal line. A catch in the end zone for a conversion by Keira Heslor gave Webster Thomas a 13-point lead.
What's next
The Titans take their 9-1-1 season record into the Section V Final at MCC, where they will play Penfield (6-3). Webster Thomas shut out Penfield during the regular season 13-0 on May 10.
Penfield 25, Greece Arcadia 20
The Patriots moved one step closer to becoming one of the first Section V Flag Football champions by defeating Greece Arcadia at Penfield.
The No. 4 seed Patriots turned back No. 9 Greece Arcadia to move into the final, 9 a.m. Saturday at Monroe Community College. They will face No. 2 Webster Thomas.
Play of the game
Penfield never lost the lead after Molly Brown carried a pitch for a two-yard touchdown with 11:14 remaining in the second half. Neither team scored again.
Player of the game
Mikayla Mrzywka, Penfield quarterback: Sophomore ran for two touchdowns, threw a touchdown pass to Emma Garigen and was the player who pitched the ball to Brown, who sped off to the eventual game-winning touchdown for the Patriots.
By the numbers
63 - Yards covered during a touchdown pass connection from Arcadia quarterback Aimee Turner to Hailey Romansky for the game's first score.
4 - Yards by Penfield quarterback Mikayla Mrzywka during a run to to help even the score, 7-7 in the first half. Abigail Sieman scored the conversion for the tying point.
18 - Yards Mrzywka weaved to the end zone for Penfield's and her second touchdown of the game. The Patriots led 13-7 with 8:43 remaining in the first half.
4:16 - Time remaining in the first half when Arcadia snatched back the lead after a 20-yard reception by Romansky of a pass from Turner. A conversion catch Ava Taylor put the Titans ahead 14-13.
27 - Yards on a touchdown pass play to Emma Garigen, who ran across and through Arcadia's defense with 2:15 remaining first half. Penfield led 19-14.
66 - Yards run for a touchdown by Turner to give the Titans 20-19 lead with 21:22 remaining in the second half.
5 - Length of Penfield's winning streak, improving their season record to 6-3.
Coach speak
"I was missing a lot of girls because of injury or (conflicts with other sports). Molly Brown got healthy and she's a huge part. The defense has played well, been great all year long. The offense was able to click with all of the girls coming back." - Penfield coach Jay Johnson said.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V flag football Penfield, Webster Thomas win semifinals
