Story by Near Post Sports
Navarre’s flag football team pulled out an overtime win, 12-6, Friday over the visiting Lincoln Trojans.
With less than nine seconds left in regulation, quarterback Tailor Ernst hit Rachel Leggett on a point-blank crossing route in the end zone for the game-tying score.
After holding the Trojans defensively on the first series of the overtime period, Raider running back Marixsa Blanco scored on an end-around sealing the victory.
The low-scoring affair featured solid, speedy defense on both sides. “Tough battle, man,” said Lincoln head coach Brandon Youmans. “We play a fast brand of football, and they have some good athletes. They were pulling flags very well. Some stuff we normally score on, they were pulling flags, and we weren’t able to convert and get into the end zone.”
Navarre began the game playing back a touch defensively to offset the Trojans’ speed. Lincoln’s offense employed a series of runs and passes designed for laterals and pitches to thwart converging defenders and, eventually, Lincoln quarterback Sanija Waller scampered in for a touchdown.
“Their quarterback was shifty – faking and rolling out,” said Skylar Burleson. “After halftime, our defense stated to pick it up. And when our defense picks it up, our offense picks it up.”
Ernst was picked off several times, as the Trojans jumped routes and ended Navarre drives.“By far, that was the most athletic and fastest team that we’ve played this year,” said Raider head coach Sean Tomey. “We had a lot of dropped balls, especially early in the game, when we had a chance to get a few touchdowns on them. That’s the scary part, if we can execute – like I know these girls can – there aren’t a lot of teams in this state that can beat us.”
With the Trojan defense rolling its coverage to defend Leggett, Tomey began calling plays for other receivers – like Madison Simmons – for drive-sustaining catches. “This was probably the hardest team we played,” Simmons said, even in comparison to the Niceville squad.
This was Navarre’s fourth (at least) overtime game, according to Tomey’s recollections. It gives the team a 5-2 record in district matchups – 7-2 overall – and third place behind Niceville and Chiles (both 4-1 in league play).
Lincoln is now 8-2 overall, but 4-2 in 2A D1 for fourth place in district standings with a few games left on their schedule.
All photos by Stu Camp
Gregory Leggett and one other
