Lara Glasser's big day leads Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK to Nassau flag football championship
Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK's Lara Glasser, center, celebrates her touchdown catch with Gabi Weinstein, left, and Emma Heaney during the Nassau Class A flag football final against Syosset on Monday. Credit: Neil Miller
Lara Glasser is a certified playmaker.
The junior wide receiver caught seven passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns and threw a TD pass as top-seeded Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK defeated No. 2 Syosset, 22-8, in the Nassau Conference I flag football championship game Monday at Long Beach Middle School.
Fresh off their second straight county title, the Hawks will face Half Hollow Hills in the Long Island championship game at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday at Long Beach Middle School.
On the first play of Plainview’s second drive, Glasser reeled in a deep pass from Jen Canarutto and dashed into the endzone for a 63-yard touchdown with a Syosset defender right on her heels.
“I know once Lara catches it, she’s gone,” Canarutto said. “I knew that was a touchdown, that’s why I started sprinting after her.”
Canarutto fired a two-point pass to Rachel Ganz to give the Hawks an 8-0 lead with 2:34 left in the first half.
“We’ve been starting off games with a ton of momentum all season and getting ahead early,” Glasser added. “It’s a big difference from when we were here last year – we were down for a while and morale was definitely low in the first half and it made it harder. It was good to get off on the right foot this year.”
The momentum was short-lived, as Syosset (11-4) scored just 21 seconds later. Ivy Matthews evaded several Plainview defenders with two spin moves near midfield, before outrunning the Hawks on a 60-yard TD run. Matthews found Emma Gallow for the tying two-point conversion.
Glasser brought the momentum back on a 6-yard TD reception from Canarutto on Plainview’s first drive of the second half. On the Hawks’ following drive, Glasser threw a 7-yard score to Emily Brake.
Plainview’s defense bounced back from Matthews’ long TD and did not allow a first down the entire second half. Emma Heaney had three sacks and a crucial pass deflection on a fourth down with 10:08 left.
Plainview improves to 16-0 and has won 32 straight games dating to last year’s season-opener.
“Back-to-back is an amazing feeling. Something like this is pretty rare for Plainview,” Canarutto said.
Added Heaney: “This means a lot for even the younger kids in our community. Building a big program is important to us.”
Plainedge wins Conference II title
Jessica Faranda caught 5 passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 5 Plainedge to a 19-7 win over No. 3 East Rockaway for the Nassau Conference II flag football title Thursday night.
Faranda caught an 18-yard TD to cap Plainedge’s 8-play, 60-yard opening drive. She later caught a 14-yard score on fourth-and-goal for the final score of the game with 16:14 left in the second half. Katelyn Tierney caught a 19-yard TD pass from Gianna Ponticello – who threw for three scores – to give Plainedge a 13-7 lead with 43 seconds left in the first half.
Emma Van Wickler scored a 2-yard rushing TD for East Rockaway (9-6).
Plainedge (9-6) will face Sayville in the Long Island Class B championship game at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Long Beach Middle School.