Tigers top Iroquois in first Flag Football game

The best was saved for last in the inaugural week of Section VI Girls Flag Football.

In a defensive battle, the Amherst Tigers outlasted the Iroquois Chiefs, 16-6, Wednesday night in what turned out to be the closest of all the games of Week 1.

“It feels truly amazing,” Amherst sophomore Vivienne Kulliecza said. “I’m so proud of this team. We’ve really grown together from the first day. We brought it today and show everyone who Amherst Flag Football really is and I think there are more games like this to come in our future.”

Expectedly, both offenses struggled to find a rhythm early as most – if not all – of the players were competing in the first flag football game of their lives.

The Tigers were able to move the ball a bit but they were stopped three times on goal-to-go situations in the first half.

Fortunately for them, the defense answered back on two of the ensuing drives with safeties, giving Amherst a 4-0 lead with 17 minutes left in the first half.

Later in the half, an Amherst sack set up the Tigers offense with 1st and Goal from the 10-yard line. Sophomore QB Sage Sabatino found Daneesia Stachowiak for eight yards on the first play and Kelsey Sorensen in the back of the endzone on the second. Amherst failed on the extra point attempt and took a 10-0 lead in the half.

The Tigers scored on their first drive of the second half. Sabatino hit Annabel Martin over the middle for a 41-yard touchdown pass.

Sophomore Sam Current will go down in history as scoring Iroquois’ first-ever touchdown in Flag Football. Current did it on the Chiefs’ final drive going 23 yards down the right sideline on a 4th and 3.

Iroquois coach Heather Ross was proud of the way her team played despite coming up on the wrong end of the scoreboard.

“It was an incredible game,” Ross said. “Win or lose the girls played great. They were on their feet, working hard, learning new plays; all these things that they’d never done before. It was positive all around. They’ve never played a full football game before so it’s going to take some time to figure out how that’s all supposed to work.”

Next: Both teams will be back in action Friday night. Iroquois travels to Nardin to take on the Buffalo Academy of Science at 7 p.m. and Amherst will take on Sweet Home at 7:30 p.m.

Watch the Amherst/Sweet Home game LIVE

Vivienne Kulliecza and Sage Sabatino of @AmherstTigers1 Flag Football after their 16-6 win over Iroquois – the inaugural game for both programs @flag_vi @NYSPHSAA @NFLFLAG @BuffaloBillsPR @AmherstCHS pic.twitter.com/AgcgzDT3W9 — WNY Athletics (@WNYAthletics) May 5, 2022