Sandalwood H.S- Kezirea Odom returned an interception for a touchdown, and added a touchdown reception to lead Terry Parker over rival Sandalwood 13-7 in the Gateway Conference Flag Football Championship. Terry Parker came into the contest heavily favored as defending champions. Not only that, but Sandalwood (7-2) lost to Parker 13-9 back on April 4. In fact, that was the Lady Saints last loss, as they found themselves on a three game winning streak. Parker (9-1) was on a four game winning streak since their stunning 12-7 loss to Stanton April 5. A day after they beat Sandalwood 13-9. The Saints had a chance to return the favor with a victory at home Thursday, and very ealry it seemed as if the Saints would get it done.
#15 Lauren Alvarez with the interception for Sandalwood still 0-0 Saints and Braves pic.twitter.com/tvU4ufYDFh
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) April 19, 2018
On the Saints first defensive series, Lauren Alvarez leaped into the air form her safety position to secure the interception for Sandalwood. However the spectacular pick seemed to do the oppositie to which it was intended. On the ensuring drive, the opportunistic Lady Brave defense would look to redeem themselves by playing defense. They would do so when Odom stepped in front of the Jada Williams pass to race 20 yards for a pick 6! The extra point would fail and the score was 6-0 in the first quarter.
#10 Jazmyn Simmons with the TD pass to Odoms. They hook up again for the conversion! It’s 13-0 Terry Parker over Sandalwood 2nd pic.twitter.com/j99o8kpb3w
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) April 19, 2018
In the second quarter, Parker would increase their lead when quarterback Jazmyn Simmons found Odom on a beautoful pass to the corner of the right endzone. Odom went high on her tippy toes and snatched it with her fingertips for the score. Simmons would find Odom again on a short pass to the left for the conversion and all ofa sudden Parker led Sandalwood 13-0 in the Saint’s back yard.
#5 Tanika McDonald with the interception for Da Braves! HALFTIME! 13-0 Terry Parker leads Sandalwood in the Gateway Conference Flag Football Championship! pic.twitter.com/vx99M70ATz
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) April 19, 2018
Sandalwood could not get anything going on offense as the Parker defense sent the rushers on blitzes. Sandalwood’s Quarterback Jada Williams found it hard to settle in to make reads on throws as she was forced to get the ball out of her hands quickly. Parker made her pay. After a Lanea McKinney interception by Sandalwood. The Saints would give it right back to Parker when LinebackerTanika McDonald intercepted the Saints pass a returned it deep into Sandalwood territory. Parker got the ball back before the end of the half with prime real-estate to score. Yet the Saints defense would hold, thanks to Alvarez once again. Simmons lofted a pass to the corner of her left endzone looking for Odom, but Alvarez read it all the way, snatching the pass out of the air for her second interception of the afternoon. Alvarez, (the two sport athlete /basketball) really showcased her ability to track the ball in the air on the afternoon. Her play almost single handedly kept her team in the game.
Sandalwood trying to rally at the start of the 4th, trailing Parker 13-0! pic.twitter.com/glrbeRXmt1
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) April 19, 2018
After a scoreless thrid quarter, the fourth quarter saw Sandalwood’s defense begin to tighten up their coverage. Now it was Simmons who found it hard to move the ball effeciently against the Saints, thanks to their lateral movement on defense. Simmons would attempt to run or get the ball to her speedsters, but Sandalwood was in good position to pull their flags in the second half. The defense gave the ball back to Sandlwood offense and Williams began to settle down. She made a crcial first down wit hher feet scrambling, then completed a nice fourth down pass to Jolie Gutierrezz. Williams would go back to Gutierrezz on the drive on a short pass and the speedster would do the rest. Gutierrezz would shake several defenders and turn up field to the endzone to score a touchdown fro the Saints. The slant pass from Williams to Alvarez was good and with 4 minutes to play in the game, Sandlwood was rejuvenated trailing only by six.
QB Jada Williams finds #6 Jolie Gutierrezz for a 4th down conversion and then a TD pass! Alvarez adds the conversion and Sandalwood pulls to within 6pts of Parker 13-7 4:17 4th pic.twitter.com/JxPSTc9aU1
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) April 19, 2018
After a stop by the Sandalwood defense, the Saints offense had a chance to drive for the tying or winning scores late in the game. After a couple of completions and a penalty on Parker put the ball near mid field for Sandalwood, the Saints would stall on offense throw an incomplete pass on fourth down quing the celebration for their arch rival. The final score, 13-7 Terry Parker over Sandalwood. Coach Poole of Parker has won three consecutive Gateway Conference Championships. He said after the game, “we knew we had a tough opponent in Sandalwood coming up, but the credit goes to these young ladies who played really hard and always give it everything they’ve got.”
