Sayville's Olivia Moynihan awarded first overall at second annual National Football Foundation Girls QB Challenge
Sayville’s Olivia Moynihan grew up wanting to play football and never thought that would become a reality. Now, she’s recognized as one of the most talented quarterbacks on Long Island.
Moynihan was awarded first overall at the second-annual National Football Foundation Girls QB Challenge presented by Orlin & Cohen on Saturday afternoon at the Smithtown West High School turf.
“I’ve been working really hard this summer for this,” Moynihan said. “I wanted to come here and win, and it worked out.”
The New Hampshire soccer commit says that her background as a goalkeeper has played a large role in her success on the flag football field.
“I play goalkeeper, and I feel like in a way it’s pretty similar to being a quarterback,” Moynihan said. “Managing the field, seeing everything, I think all of those skills have translated a lot.”
Last year’s champion Jennifer Canarutto of Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK finished second and Northport’s Grace Gilmartin took third.
Last season, Moynihan, the Newsday Suffolk Player of the Year, completed 64% of her passes for 2,230 yards and 38 touchdowns and rushed for 867 yards and 13 TDs. She led Sayville to the Division II state final where they fell 39-20 to Bishop Kearney (Rochester).
“I focused a lot on my footwork today and just making sure I got the ball into my receivers hand,” Moynihan said. “This already makes me super excited for the season to come, I love the girls on my team, and I can’t wait to be back on the field.”
The 13 qualifiers were led through drills by Long Island QB Challenge director John Gill which focused on accuracy, release quickness, mobility, anticipation, and knowledge.
“I’m very excited to be a part of this,” Gill said. “It’s a great opportunity for girls to come out and compete and improve on their skills. They were very attentive, they flew through the drills with great precision and they all worked really hard, they weren’t just going through the motions.”
It was Longwood’s Delaney Israel who once again excelled in the accuracy category where the participants run a wave drill. She brought home the award for the second year in a row. Her secret? Staying calm, cool, and collected each time the ball is in her hand.
“It’s all about keeping calm under pressure,” Israel said. “Once you get used to playing with that pressure on you, you learn how to deliver the ball well.”
Having a strong football IQ is what helps Massapequa’s Delaney Donato succeed on the field.
“It’s really about being able to read the field and figure out how to be successful even if a play breaks down,” Donato said. “It’s about having good decision-making skills and understanding what’s best for the team.”
It wasn’t just a day of highlighting quarterbacks, however. Fourteen wide receivers had the opportunity to showcase their abilities, and Longwood’s Crystal Rivera stood out. She earned the most outstanding wide receiver award.
“I definitely hustled and put my effort in out there today,” Rivera said. “I went for every ball, and if I dropped one, I didn’t put my head down, I used that to motivate me. I’m really glad that I was able to be recognized.”
Northport’s Grace Gilmartin claimed the top score in the anticipation challenge in which participants throw the ball when the receiver’s back is turned. The footwork, timing, and precision are critical to a high score.
For Moynihan, the rapid growth of flag football on Long Island is exciting, and she’s grateful for the exposure the quarterback challenge is able to bring to the sport.
“Everyone’s going to see this, whether on social media, the newspaper or online,” Moynihan said. “There are so many girls who grow up wanting to play football just like I did, and now, they know that it’s possible. It’s been amazing.”