The Western Wildcats fell one point shy of their first-ever Class 2A flag football state championship against the Newsome-Lithia Wolves on Saturday at Mandarin High School.
Led by quarterback Devyn Silvestri’s three touchdowns, Newsome-Lithia (20-1) edged out Western (17-1), 20-19, putting an end to Western’s aspirations of completing an undefeated season. A pair of missed extra points proved to be the deciding factor for the Wildcats as the Wolves delivered the game-winning blow on a rushing touchdown by Silvestri with 10 minutes left.
Behind Silvestri’s two touchdown passes in the first half, Newsome-Lithia managed to establish a 13-0 lead. Silvestri, who led the Wolves in passing and rushing, ended the game completing 20 of her 29 passes for 169 yards, two scores and an interception while accumulating 50 yards on the ground and one touchdown.
The Wildcats promptly responded to the double-digit deficit when quarterback Sydney Ford found wide receiver Syndey Hoover in the end zone with four minutes left in the first half.
Following an interception by Western’s Jordan Fine, the Wildcats tied the game, 13-13, before the half ended as Ford connected with Hoover once again. Western earned its only lead of the game, 19-13, with less than three minutes in the third quarter after Hoover hauled in her third touchdown from Ford.
Ford finished with 181 yards and three touchdowns on 22 of 33 passing.
Fueled by a trio of touchdowns by Ford, Western punched its ticket to the state championship by beating the Seminole Ridge Hawks (16-1), 19-6, in the state semifinals on Friday at Mandarin High School.
After an early 6-0 deficit, Ford found the end zone three different ways in the first half for the Wildcats with a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown.
Seminole Ridge’s wide receiver Alex Wilson scored the lone touchdown for the Hawks, catching a pass from quarterback Haylie Young with six minutes left in the first quarter.
In the Class 1A state championship, the Robinson-Tampa Knights (22-0) dominated the Florida A&M Baby Rattlers (12-4), 33-7, for their fifth consecutive state title. Robinson-Tampa extended its winning streak to 50 games.
