SECTION IV FLAG FOOTBALL: ROBINSON ACCOUNTS FOR SIX TDs; LEADS WAVERLY TO 64-32 WIN OVER WINDSOR IN PROGRAM'S FIRST-EVER GAME (24 PHOTOS) (2024-03-25)
By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportWINDSOR — Senior Paige Robinson accounted for six TDs, and Waverly piled up 658 yards in total offense en route to a 64-32 win over Windsor here Monday evening in its first-ever Section IV flag football game.
“I’m just really happy for these girls,” said Waverly coach Dave Shaw. “I’m really happy they’ve had the opportunity to do this … I’m really proud of them for the way they’ve worked hard to learn everything we’ve thrown at them.
“I’m especially happy for the senior,” he noted. “They’ve gone through hell. It’s just nice to see them smiling and being happy.”
Windsor scored the game’s first TD on its first possession, but the Wolverines reeled off 39 points to take a 39-7 lead at the half, then scored twice early in the second half to extend its lead to 52-7 before subbing freely over the game’s final 20 minutes.
“I told you we’d all right offensively,” said Shaw with a laugh. “We still have some things to clean up, but we have athletes all over the field, and (offensive coordinator) Peyton (Miller) is doing a good job of spreading it around.
“And, Paige (Robinson) is starting to pick it up — she threw the ball much better tonight.
“Defensively, after the first series, when we were a little shellshocked, we started pulling flags,” he noted. “We obviously have to keep working on trapping the ball and pulling flags, but overall it was good.
“We’re just going to keep getting better.” he added.
Robinson and fellow seniors Erica Ryck, and Ashlen Croft thoroughly enjoyed their first taste of flag football.
“It was super-fun, more fun than I thought it would be,” said Robinson. “And, we’re doing better than I through we would, too.
“I wish we had this all of our high school years,” she added.
“It’s fun to try something new, and be good at it,” said Ryck. “I never in a million years would have thought we’d have the opportunity to play flag football — it’s very cool.”
“I love it,” said Croft. “I like the coaches, they keep it fun, are very knowledgable.”
Windsor opened the scoring with a 41-yard TD pass on fourth-and-1, but Waverly answered with TDs on all six of its possessions in the first half.
Senior Ally Barrett capped a six-play drive with a 4-yard TD run to put the Wolverines on the board. The two-point conversion failed, and Waverly trailed, 7-6.
Windsor’s ensuing possession ended with a punt, thanks to a big “tackle” for loss on third down by Waverly sophomore Mira Kittle.
Moments later, Robinson flipped a short pass to Croft, who raced 44 yards down the sidelines for a score. Ryck added the conversion run to give the Wolverines a 13-7 lead.
Following another Windsor punt, Robinson connected with 8th-grader Kaylin Twedt on a 21-yard TD pass to make it 19-7.
Windsor’s next possession ended with a punt, thanks to a QB sack by Kittle, and Robinson capped a short drive with an 11-yard TD run. Barrett’s PAT run made it 26-7.
Waverly scored again on its next possession, with Robinson doing the honors with a 22-yard TD run. Twedt hauled in a pass from Robinson for conversion to extend the lead to 32-7.
Windsor’s offense got untracked on its ensuing possession, but Waverly stiffened in the red zone, with a Welles “tackle” at the Windsor 2 on fourth down giving the ball back to the Wolverines with 1 second remaining.
Instead of taking a knee, Miller called Robinson’s number with a QB keeper around right end, and she raced 78 yards down the visitor’s sideline as time expired to give the Wolverines a 39-7 lead at the half.
Robinson would end the game seven completions in 10 pass attempts for 136 yards, and three TDs, while rushing for 176 yards and three TDs on just nine carries.
“I really like playing quarterback,” said Robinson. “I didn’t realize how much I would like throwing the ball until tonight.”
Windsor came out throwing in the second half, and it ended up in disaster as Kittle batted the throw, and senior Brenae Tedesco intercepted it near midfield.
On Waverly’s first play, Ryck raced 49 yards around right end for a score to make it 45-7.
After a defensive stop, Robinson connected with Croft in stride for a 19-yard TD pass. Ryck’s conversion run made it 52-7 with 20 minutes remaining, and ended the day for the starters.
“That was a beautiful throw,” said Shaw.
“It was a really good throw, it was a dot to me,” said Croft. “I was pretty happy I caught, but it was such a good throw I knew I had it.”
The Wolverines added two TDs — a 2-yard TD pass from sophomore Brilynn Belles to Welles, and a 43-yard TD run by Welles.
Ryck ran for 87 yards and one TD on five carries for the Wolverines, who rushed for 520 yards on 41 carries, while Twedt added 79 yards on six carries, Welles had 71 yards and one TD on three carries, and Clonch chipped in with 52 yards on eight carries.
Croft led Waverly’s receivers with four catches for 90 yards and two TDs, while Twedt had three catches for 36 yards and one TD, and Ryck added one catch for 10 yards.
Belles led Waverly with five flag pulls, while Kittle had four, Barrett added three, and Tedesco had two flag pulls, and an interception.
Waverly returns to action April 3 at Union-Endicott.
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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly senior Paige Robinson. … PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
