The South Flag Football team continued its strong start to the season with a dominant weekend sweep, rolling past Riverside 34-0 on Friday before following it up with a 37-6 win over Wickliffe on Sunday to open league play 2-0.
“I think most of the credit should go to our defense,” said quarterback Lindsay Nejak. “Our first game, we had a shutout, and in the second game, the defense only let up six points. They did a great job in coverage, getting a lot of interceptions and turnovers. Their effort and energy fed into the offense, allowing us to give our best performance.”
That complementary effort fueled a Rebels offense that was nearly unstoppable across both games, as South improved to 8-1 overall behind a balanced attack through the air and on the ground.
Nejak led the charge with an efficient and explosive weekend, completing 30-of-39 passes for 330 yards with six touchdowns and just one interception.
“It’s a lot of fun to be able to just play the game with my teammates,” Nejak said. “They are always able to find open space, making it easy to make great plays. It’s also really fun to make those big plays, because the team’s hard work shows and pays off.”
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Her top targets delivered in a big way. Olivia Pennington hauled in eight receptions for 75 yards and three touchdowns while also making a major defensive impact with four interceptions. Cara Nejak added nine catches for 90 yards and two scores, while also picking off two passes on defense.
Tia Jackson showcased her versatility with 125 receiving yards and a touchdown on six catches, while also adding 30 rushing yards and a score on the ground. Addy Matriano powered the run game with 90 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns, including a 40-yard burst, and contributed five receptions for 40 yards.
“All the credit goes to my teammates,” Nejak said. “They all ran their routes efficiently, always finding open space for me to get them the ball. I can count on everyone to do their part, allowing us to perform so well.”
With contributions coming from every level of the roster, South’s early-season success has been built on both execution and chemistry. The Rebels now turn their attention to keeping that momentum rolling as they prepare for their next matchup against Cornerstone Christian Academy.
“I think we have to keep working hard in practice, perfecting our plays and coming up with new ones to use,” Nejak said. “Also, we have to continue supporting each other and encouraging all of our teammates during every play. Most importantly, I think that we have to go into each game with a fresh perspective and take them one at a time.”
South Rebels Flag Football
