The South Rebels flag football team put together a perfect Friday night at Harry E. Winters Stadium, overwhelming three opponents with a blend of explosive offense and suffocating defense.
South opened the day with a 30-0 win over Richmond Heights, followed by a 32-0 shutout of rival Eastlake North, and closed the sweep with a 30-0 victory over Cornerstone Christian Academy. The Rebels improved to 12-1 overall and remained unbeaten in league play at 6-0.
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“It was fun,” said South head coach Matt McCue. “We had kind of rainy conditions, but the girls were really excited to be playing at home in front of our fans, and getting the win over North is always a big deal.”
Richmond Heights: Defense Sets the Tone in 30-0 Win
South wasted no time establishing dominance in the opener, leaning on a defense that turned takeaways into instant points.
Junior quarterback Lindsay Nejak was efficient, completing all three of her passes for 30 yards, while Addy Matriano contributed both on the ground and through the air with 20 rushing yards, a touchdown, and a 10-yard reception.
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Freshman Tia Jackson led the receiving corps with three catches for 30 yards, but it was the defense that stole the show. Cara Nejak recorded three interceptions, returning all three for touchdowns, while Olivia Pennington added an interception of her own.
Eastlake North: Rivalry Win Fueled by Air Attack
In the rivalry matchup against Eastlake North, South’s offense reached another level.
Lindsay Nejak delivered a flawless performance, completing all seven of her passes for 125 yards and four touchdowns. She spread the ball effectively, connecting with multiple playmakers.
Jackson continued her standout day, accounting for 80 total yards and two touchdowns, including a 25-yard scoring run and a touchdown reception. Cara Nejak hauled in four catches for 60 yards and two scores, while Pennington added a touchdown reception and two interceptions.
Sophomore Sydney Sikora made her presence felt with an interception, highlighting a defensive unit that never let North find rhythm.
“Lindsay Nejak, our quarterback, had four touchdown passes in that game, and one of our sophomores, Sydney Sikora, who plays defensive back, was in there. She’s not one of our starters, but she came in and had a nice interception in that game,” McCue said. “Maddy Schmidt, another one of our sophomores, is one of our other defensive backs, and she had a nice game too. I don’t think they even really threw on her side of the field. She really kind of shut things down on her side.”
Cornerstone Christian Game: Ground Game Closes Out the Sweep
South capped the night with a balanced effort against Cornerstone Christian, mixing an efficient passing attack with big plays on the ground.
Lindsay Nejak completed 6-of-8 passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns, while Matriano took over offensively with 70 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a long run that broke the game open.
Pennington added two touchdown receptions, and Cara Nejak chipped in 65 receiving yards and an interception. Jackson contributed in both phases again with 20 total yards.
“Addy Matriano, our running back, broke two big runs. I know one of them was at least a 45-yarder, and then she had a short touchdown. She got our game ball for that game, but she had a really, really great game against Cornerstone.”
Combined Stats: Rebels Dominate Across the Board
Across all three games, South’s production was overwhelming:
- Lindsay Nejak: 16-of-18 passing, 255 yards, 6 TD
- Addy Matriano: 9 carries, 126 yards, 3 TD; 2 catches, 20 yards
- Tia Jackson: 4 carries, 35 yards, 1 TD; 6 catches, 95 yards, 1 TD
- Olivia Pennington: 4 catches, 45 yards, 3 TD; 3 INT
- Cara Nejak: 7 catches, 125 yards, 2 TD; 4 INT (3 returned for TDs)
- Sydney Sikora: 2 INT
South outscored its opponents 92-0 on the day, showcasing a complete team effort on both sides of the ball.
The Rebels will look to keep their momentum rolling Sunday when they take on Garfield Heights at Warrensville High School.
