Spectators at the New Hampshire Flag Football League’s early-round playoffs watched some stunning developments in games played Friday, June 19, and Sunday, June 21.
In the 12- to 15-year-old division:
The previously winless and eighth-ranked Browns handed the top-ranked Ravens their first loss in a 15-14 final, despite fine play from a hungry Ravens’ squad. Jacob Diaz scored for the Browns, while Matt DiPoto nabbed an interception.
The second-seeded Bears received star efforts on offense from Jeff Barry and quarterback David Bronson to emerge with a 22-20 victory. John Homsey and Tom Anderson led the seventh-ranked Raiders.
The No. 6-ranked Colts upset the third-seeded Jets, 43- 10. Noah Swiderski made two interceptions, and Dylan Swiderski scored a touchdown. Tom Collins pulled in a TD catch for the Jets, and Matt Noel contributed solid all-around play.
The Texans, ranked No. 4, held off the fifth-seeded Steelers, 18-15. Eric Nystrom scored twice, and Kevin Deangelo ran the game well at QB. Nick Johnson and Adam Wentzel’s all-around play led the Steelers.
In the 6- to 8-year-old division:
AFC Conference’s A Division games The No. 1-ranked Steelers won their elimination contest against a solid Cowboys group, 20-6. Eric Thibodeau tossed three touchdown passes to Zach Colvin.
With a 20-0 victory, the No. 2 Bills secured their place in the championship game. Jack Drolet scored three touchdowns, and Anthony Snyder was tough on defense. Ian Morganstern and Bobby Charrette put in fine all-around performances for the Cardinals.
In the AFC championship- game thriller, the Steelers edged the Bills, 28-26. The Bills scored with three seconds left, but the Steelers prevented the ensuing two-point conversion to hold on. Brandon O’Grady scored a pair of touchdowns for the Bills.
NFC Conference’s A Division games The top-ranked Colts won, 24-8. Connor Matthews and Cory Eyring were solid on both sides of the ball. Mason Belsky and Matthew Scaccia both played inspired defense for the No. 4-ranked Dolphins.
The third-ranked Panthers shut out the No. 2 Packers, 8-0, with big all-around contributions from Danny Dickey and Jeffrey Andon. Drew Brown led the Pack on offense and Noah Lynch spurred the defense.
Tommy Emerick scored on a long TD run, Cody Stevens returned an interception for the game-winning touchdown, and the Colts edged the Panthers, 12-6, for the conference crown. The Panthers received fine allaround games from Cameron Homsey and Daniel Dickey.
AFC Conference’s B Division games The No. 5 Ravens defeated the eighth-ranked 49ers, 34-6.
Brandon Mercier scored in the win, and Jack Herling was a force throughout the game. Salihah Bogner was solid for the 49ers’ defense, and Katie Chaisson played well on both sides of the ball.
The sixth-seeded Chargers clamped down on defense to beat the no. 7 Broncos, 19-6. Tyler Larsen scored for the victors. Lincoln Lessard tallied for the Broncos, and Eddie Shilimon turned in a good game on both sides of the ball.
The Ravens moved to the B Division championship round following a 40-6 win. Aria O’Connel played well in all departments, and Jacob Dorman sparked the offense. Olivia Gagnon and Dreke Crowley put forth excellent all-around efforts for the Chargers.
NFC Conference’s B Division games Kyle Keenan and Nicholas Mueller each scored as the No. 5-seeded Patriots won, 32- 6. Nicholas Pereira scored the lone TD for the Titans, and Colin Marconi was effective on offense and defense.
The No. 6 Vikings moved on following a 14-10 win. AJ Pereira ran for six points, and Nick Wood played stellar D. Owen Haskins led the No. 7 Falcons’ defense, and Madelyn Shea was an all-around star.
A late-game TD reception from Kyle Hoglund helped the Vikings advance, 14-8. Zach Luongo scored the other touchdown off an interception. The Patriots’ Cameron Burns scored the team’s TD, and Ashley Daniels was stellar on defense.
In the 9- to 11-year-old division:
AFC Conference’s A Division games The No. 4-ranked Packers edged the previously unchallenged and top-ranked Patriots, 8-6. Tyler Longo chalked up multiple sacks, and Tim Anderson snatched a pick in the end zone with less than a minute to play to help seal the win over the never-say-die Pats.
The second-ranked Chiefs advanced, 30-6. Johnny Granfield was a key cog in the defense, and Matt Drolet turned in a fine all-around game. The No. 3 Buccaneers received stellar games from Zach Demmons and Tanner Bogner.
NFC Conference’s A Division games Trevor Longo returned an INT for six points and reeled in a reception for a score as the No. 1-ranked Lions won, 27- 6. Andrew Durango threw for a couple of touchdowns. The fourth-ranked Jaguars scored on a Lillian Shilimon-to-Jack Frey pass.
The second-seeded Redskins shut out the No. 3-ranked Rams, 7-0, thanks in large part to Collin Loring’s defense and Cameron Holdsworth’s interception. Patrick Collins contributed everywhere for the Rams, and Ryan O’Grady’s defensive play was exceptional.
AFC Conference’s B Division games The eighth-ranked Seahawks earned their first victory of the season, 15-12, upsetting the No. 5 Bengals. Kyle Rembis was efficient at quarterback, and Andrew Dorman provided excellent play. Johnny Bartose keyed the Bengals’ offense, and Royce Belsky led the D.
The seventh-ranked Eagles knocked off the No. 6 Raiders, 8-0. Joe Halpin was a strong presence on both sides of the ball, and Tommy Costa was a rock on defense. Jacob Yirrell turned in a fine defensive performance for the Raiders, and JJ Wrobel was an all-around star.
NFC Conference’s B Division games Austin Wentzel scored a pair of safeties on quarterback sacks in the fifth-ranked Cardinals’ 4-0 win against the eighth-seeded Panthers. Matt McLaughlin was a force on defense in the win. Max Faro and Michel Haas played very well for the Panthers.
With touchdowns from Kevin Bolio and Patrick Barry, the sixth-seeded Saints moved on with a 25-14 win. The Cowboys’ Connor Rouse returned a pick for a TD, and David Tello was effective on both sides of the ball.