Top Two Teams Reach Flag Finals

OCEAN CITY- The top two seeds in the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department’s Fall Flag Football League will face each other in the championship next week after one had to scrap its way back through the loser’s bracket this week to get a shot at the title.

Schell Brothers-Greene Turtle, which finished second in the regular season, cruised through its side of the bracket while regular season champion Seacrets had to fight its way back to the title game after a second-round playoff loss to Kirby’s Pub. Because, Seacrets had the early loss, it will essentially have to beat SBGT twice next Monday to claim the championship.

SBGT beat the Alumni, Buxy’s and Kirby’s to reach the finals, while Seacrets had to go back and beat the same teams in the loser’s bracket after its second round loss. If SBGT wins the first game on Monday, it will claim the title. If Seacrets wins, the two teams will play again on the same night for the championship. The following is a brief look at some of this week’s playoff action:

(bullet) SBGT 40- Kirby’s Pub 24: Ray Taranto got SBGT on the board first with a 50-yard TD strike to Eric Givens, but Kirby’s answered with a one-yard TD pass to Justin Fiedler. SBGT went ahead again on a 50-yarder from Taranto to Kyle Swayngim, but Kirby’s had the answer again on a 30-yard TD pass from Kevin Henson to Jeremy Harris. Taranto then his Scott Dailey on a 10-yarder to put SBGT ahead, 21-12, but Barry Snowden carried it in from 18 yards out to cut the lead to 21-18.

Taranto then hit Ron Strickler on a 33-yard touchdown pass followed by another 37-yarder to Dailey to extend the lead to 34-18. Snowden hit Fiedler again on a four-yard scoring strike to cut the lead to 34-24, but Taranto rounded out the scoring with a one-yard TD pass to Dailey to finish out the 40-24 win.

(bullet) Seacrets 33- Buxy’s Salty Dog 26: Ryan Gartland got Seacrets off to a fast start with a five-yard touchdown pass to Luke Rommel and a 37-yarder to Jay Manual to stake his team to an early 14-0 lead. Gartland then made it 20-0 on a 16-yarder to Steve Monroe, but the game was far from over. Trailing 20-0, Buxy’s quarterback D.J. Draus then went to work, connecting with Mike Lutz on a one-yarder, Matt Stoehr on an eight-yard TD pass and a 50-yarder to Adam Blaney to cut the lead to 20-19. Gartland then hit Monroe on a 37-yarder to extend the lead to 26-19, but Buxy’s answered right back on a 50-yard TD pass to Pat Spicer to tie the game late at 26-26. Finally, Taranto his Dailey on a one-yard TD pass to steal the 33-26 win and send Seacrets to the finals against SBGT.