During Tuesday's game at the North Elba Show Grounds, Lake Placid's Eliza Fitzsimmons pulled in a pass and raced through the Plattsburgh defense for the Blue Bombers' first women's flag football touchdown. Myasia Do in Plattsburgh is also in the photo. (Corporate photo — Parker O’Brien)
LAKE PLACID — After the first game was postponed, the Lake Placid girls flag football team played for the first time ever at the North Elba Showgrounds Tuesday afternoon. The Blue Bombers lost to the Plattsburgh Hornets 19-7 in their home opener.
Despite not having played a single flag football game this season, the Lake Placid team continued to fight until the end. The Hornets used a solid running attack and stopped the Blue Bombers twice near the goal line, achieving a 2-1 record and their second win of the season. With this loss, Lake Placid's overall record falls to 0-1.
“We knew this was going to be a learning curve and we all learned quite a bit. I was really proud of their efforts.” Blue Bombers head coach Tammy Morgan said. “They were in it and they were competitive.”
The Lake Placid Girls Flag Football Team was created last month after the Lake Placid Central School District School Board voted to approve the program, joining 12 other Section VII schools with similar programs.
The Blue Bombers team has more than 17 girls, and while some play only flag football, most are dual-time players who participate in another spring sport in addition to flag football. Some schools in Section VII, such as Saranac Lake, have girls flag football as their primary sport, forcing players to choose between flag football or another spring sport.
Lake Placid's Anisa Sekunjanin (2) carries the ball during Tuesday's home game against Plattsburgh. (Corporate photo — Parker O’Brien)
On Tuesday, Plattsburgh led 7-0 at halftime and sparked the second half with a quick touchdown march by quarterback Myajia Do, who ran 9 yards for the score. However, the Hornets were unable to score again after that, making the score 13-0.
The Blue Bombers got the ball back and countered with their first-ever touchdown when quarterback Anisa Sekjanin found a wide-open Eliza Fitzsimmons behind the Plattsburgh defense. After the speedy freshman caught the ball, she ran 60 yards without being touched.
“It was a first ever for my team.” Fitzsimmons said.
Morgan said Fitzsimmons is one of the youngest players on the team, and while the Lake Placid students just returned from a two-week spring break, she was one of the few players to show up for voluntary practice during the break. He is said to be one of the
“Many of these girls were away from home for two weeks on a two-week vacation.” she said. “After two weeks off, it was tough to get back on track. But Eliza was here the whole time off and was really excited to work with Anisa. It was a lot of hard work. is.”
Lake Placid's Olivia Skutto carries the ball during Tuesday's home game against Plattsburgh. (Corporate photo — Parker O’Brien)
After the touchdown, Lake Placid senior back Nadia Phillip ran in the one-point conversion to make the score 13-7 with over 17 minutes left in the game.
Both teams stepped up their defense, limiting each other to back-to-back threes and out punts. Morgan said it took him a little while to figure out what to do defensively because it was the first time his team played against another team.
“But we know what to do to work out the kinks.” she said. “They each learned so much about positioning (Tuesday), but it was difficult for them to do it before we were on the field. It's their first time being on a paved field.”
Leading 13-7, Plattsburgh extended its lead with about seven minutes left in the second half when Jania Young ran 8 yards for her second touchdown of the game. After missing the snap on a one-point conversion attempt, the score remained 19-7.
With minutes remaining, the Blue Bombers narrowly scored their second touchdown of the game after driving about seven yards outside the end zone. Sekunjanin's pass attempt on first down was rejected and after consecutive run plays failed, the Hornets turned it around with a big sack on fourth down to keep Lake Placid out of the end zone.
Young led the team with two rushing touchdowns, one in the first half. Do scored one rushing touchdown and ran in a one-point conversion for Plattsburgh. Do also recorded the only interception of the game early in the first half.
Sekjanin led the Blue Bombers on the ground, with six or more Lake Placid players recording at least one carry.
“I’m proud that they all came together and there was a lot of positive energy there.” Morgan said. “Don't count out (Lake Placid) yet. There was a lot of good stuff.”
The Blue Bombers return to action on the road against the Ausable Valley Patriots on Monday. The game was scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. As of Wednesday morning, the Patriots were 0-1 on the season.
