Syracuse, N.Y. — The Baldwinsville flag football team earned its first Section 3 Division I championship with a 19-2 victory over Syracuse East on Friday at Henninger High School.
The Bees got on the board first when Aubrey Rizzo jetted down the field and scored. Gabriel Awwad scored the extra point to give Baldwinsville a 7-0 lead seven minutes into the game.
From then on, both defenses continued to perform well, with no one scoring in the first half.
Baldwinsville's defense started the second half strong. After a Syracuse East receiver bobbled a pass, Brianne Zuba intercepted the ball, putting the Bees in good field position.
After allowing a first down, Syracuse East's defense stuck with a force-and-goal, cutting the deficit to one point with 20 minutes left in the game.
On Syracuse East's next offensive possession, quarterback Takai Baker ran nearly 70 yards for a score, but a penalty nullified the play. Syracuse East's momentum ultimately ended with a punt.
Late in the second half, Zuba intercepted another pass. This set up Beth for a first-and-goal from the 6-yard line. Rizzo scored on Baldwinsville's next offensive play. Awwad's extra point came up short, but the Bees led 13-0 with 14 minutes left in the game.
The Bees defense didn't stop it. On the next two drives, Mallory Offreddy and Maddie Simmons recorded Baldwinsville's third and fourth interceptions of the night, respectively.
Baldwinsville added a touchdown on a Rizzo run with five minutes left in the game. The extra-point pass fell incomplete, giving the Bees a 19-0 lead.
On the Bees' final offensive possession, they fumbled the ball into their own end zone, giving Syracuse East its only points of the night.
Sophia Randolph capped off a dominant night for Baldwinsville with an interception, giving the ball back to the Bees and scoring Neal to seal the victory.
Syracuse East finished its first-ever flag football season with a 10-5 record.
Baldwinsville (10-3) will face the Section 4 champions in a regional playoff game Wednesday at Union-Endicott High School.
This story will be updated.
Syracuse East vs. Baldwinsville in the Section III Division I flag football divisional final on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Henninger High School in Syracuse. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)
Syracuse East vs. Baldwinsville in the Section III Division I flag football divisional final on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Henninger High School in Syracuse. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)
Syracuse East vs. Baldwinsville in the Section III Division I flag football divisional final on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Henninger High School in Syracuse. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)
Syracuse East vs. Baldwinsville in the Section III Division I flag football divisional final on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Henninger High School in Syracuse. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)
Syracuse East vs. Baldwinsville in the Section III Division I flag football divisional final on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Henninger High School in Syracuse. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)
Syracuse East vs. Baldwinsville in the Section III Division I flag football divisional final on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Henninger High School in Syracuse. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)
Syracuse East vs. Baldwinsville in the Section III Division I flag football divisional final on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Henninger High School in Syracuse. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)
Syracuse East vs. Baldwinsville in the Section III Division I flag football divisional final on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Henninger High School in Syracuse. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)
Syracuse East vs. Baldwinsville in the Section III Division I flag football divisional final on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Henninger High School in Syracuse. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)
Syracuse East vs. Baldwinsville in the Section III Division I flag football divisional final on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Henninger High School in Syracuse. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)
Syracuse East vs. Baldwinsville in the Section III Division I flag football divisional final on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Henninger High School in Syracuse. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)
Syracuse East vs. Baldwinsville in the Section III Division I flag football divisional final on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Henninger High School in Syracuse. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)
Syracuse East vs. Baldwinsville in the Section III Division I flag football divisional final on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Henninger High School in Syracuse. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)
Syracuse East vs. Baldwinsville in the Section III Division I flag football divisional final on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Henninger High School in Syracuse. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)
Syracuse East vs. Baldwinsville in the Section III Division I flag football divisional final on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Henninger High School in Syracuse. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)
Syracuse East vs. Baldwinsville in the Section III Division I flag football divisional final on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Henninger High School in Syracuse. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)
Syracuse East vs. Baldwinsville in the Section III Division I flag football divisional final on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Henninger High School in Syracuse. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)
Syracuse East vs. Baldwinsville in the Section III Division I flag football divisional final on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Henninger High School in Syracuse. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)
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