Flag football is back, and the Longwood girls’ varsity flag football team has hit the turf with its sights set on capturing the flag and some titles. The Lions are playing both sides of the ball really well, and it’s paying off on the scoresheet and in the standings.
The Longwood girls’ varsity flag football team is a member of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and competes in League I. The Lions are led by Aden Smith and alum Anthony Boriello. Longwood boasts a 4-0-0 record, sitting atop League I.
Longwood has played four games so far, three against league opponents and one against non-league opponents. Though it made no difference to the outcome, as Longwood won all four games. The next 10 games will be against nine League I opponents, with Riverhead Charter being the sole non-league opponent. The Lions have amassed 71 points this season while holding their opponents to 26.
Football, flag or tackle, starts with the quarterback. They are the leader on the field, and the play starts with them. They call the routes for their team to execute on the field. For Longwood, the backbone of their team comes in the form of Claire Sclafani. She’s good with her hands and her feet, as we saw her on the soccer field in the fall. Sclafani was named to Newsday’s Top-50 flag football players list prior to the season.
The senior captain is leaving it all out on the field for her senior season. Sclafani’s stat line this season reads: Passing- 38 attempts, 61 completions, 448 yards, and 5 touchdowns. Rushing- 17 attempts, 131 yards, and 1 touchdown.
Flag football doesn’t involve tackling. It’s not a highly physical game, as it relies more on skill and speed. The rules are the same in that the teams are still trying to score touchdowns, but the difference is that the flag substitutes for a tackle. Instead of physically applying the tackle, they pull the flag instead, and it stops the play.
Liana Colazzo played a significant role in Longwood’s overtime thriller on Saturday afternoon. Sclafani threw for two touchdowns, one in regulation and one in overtime. The Tigers got the ball for their attempt to score, but Colazzo made sure they never saw the endzone. Colazzo recorded her third sack of the game to put a stop to Northport’s drive and seal the 14-7 win for her team. Jada Griffith also recorded five sacks on defense to help keep Northport from scoring.
The Longwood Lions have yet to win a title in flag football, partly due to the sport’s young life in Section XI as well as Sayville’s dominance, but they’ll look to change that narrative this season as they aim for a first in everything. League I, County, and Long Island titles are the end goal for this team. A strong start is just the beginning of what’s to come for flag football at Longwood.
