Gianna Ponticello leads Plainedge flag football to LI title
Plainedge celebrates after dfeeating Glenn in the Long Island Class C flag football final on Saturday at Longwood. Credit: David Meisenholder
With a championship on the line and just under six minutes to play, Plainedge quarterback Gianna Ponticello took over.
The sophomore found Charlotte Norbury in the back of the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown strike, capping a seven-play, 50-yard drive that gave Plainedge a 12-7 win and its first Long Island Class C flag football championship Saturday at Longwood High School.
“We’re so strong, we can come back from anything,” Ponticello said.
Plainedge (11-7-1) advances to the state semifinals at Homer High School at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
Glenn’s last two possessions ended the same way: with the ball in the arms of a Plainedge sophomore. On the first, pressure from Kate Franks flushed Glenn quarterback Molly Brignati from the pocket and forced an errant throw that Ponticello intercepted. Then, on Glenn’s next play, Rebecca Reiter read the route perfectly and stepped in front of a pass to make her second pick and seal the title.
“I got that second interception because of my teammates,” Reiter said. “Their support really boosted my confidence after the first one.”
Her first interception came in the first half, when she jumped a deep ball on third-and-long and returned it to the Glenn 21. That turnover set up Ponticello’s 11-yard touchdown pass to freshman Samantha Pigott to put Plainedge up 6-0 with 9:55 left in the first half.
“I play corner to the right and I was following my girl," Reiter said, "but then I saw another girl cross over so I ran to her and just stuck my arms out between hers and grabbed the ball with confidence."
Glenn (11-6), in its first varsity season, responded with an impressive eight-play, 66-yard drive capped by Brignati’s 5-yard rushing touchdown. She added a 1-point conversion pass to Julianna Barragato for a 7-6 lead with 3:52 left in the half.
But Plainedge’s defense, which had six shutouts this season, clamped down from there and never let go.
Pigott, one of several freshmen starters, said she had dreamed of this moment since middle school.
“In seventh grade, I knew I wanted to be on this team,” she said. “I’ve grown up with football my whole life and I said I’m doing it. I still can’t believe I’m a part of it.”
