Half Hollow Hills ends Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK's reign in flag football to win Long Island Class A title
Half Hollow Hills celebrates after winning the Long Island Class A flag football final against Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK at Longwood on Saturday. Credit: David Meisenholder
A half yard stood between Half Hollow Hills quarterback Samantha Heyman and a touchdown. It was fourth-and-goal in a scoreless tie with Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, the defending Class A state flag football champs.
A brutal wind slowed two of Long Island’s top offensive units and scoring opportunities were limited. There was 13:35 left in the second half of the Long Island Class A title game and Heyman assessed the Hawks' defense.
“There was zero chance I wasn’t getting into the end zone,” Heyman said. “The snap was perfect. I knew if I could get across the goal line our defense would make it stand up.”
Heyman's 1-yard touchdown run led Half Hollow Hills to a 6-0 win over POB JFK to capture the Long Island Class A title at Longwood High School in Middle Island on Saturday.
POB JFK suffered its first loss in program history after starting with a state-record 52 wins in a row.
For Half Hollow Hills, it was a game of redemption, having felt the crush of two heartbreaking losses to POB JFK in Long Island championship games.
“They beat us two years in a row by a point,” Heyman said. “And last year was disappointing because it was in overtime. Our goal was to get here and win this time.”
Half Hollow Hills (16-3) will move on to play in the state tournament at Cortland State University at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
The winning drive went 55 yards and was keyed by a 25-yard catch-and-run by eighth-grader Ella Candel deep into POB JFK territory.
“She started the year on junior varsity and was learning the game,” Half Hollow Hills coach Mike Lupa said. “She’s a quick learner and we needed a spark. She was that spark the whole second half of the season.”
POB JFK (14-1) had one last drive to try and secure a third straight crown. Schyler Sacks completed a 15-yard pass to Emily Brake for a first down at the 27-yard line with 2:23 left. Emma Gould got a crucial sack for a 5-yard loss and after an incomplete pass and a 15-yard pass to a leaping Emma Heaney at the 38, the Hawks' season and streak were on the line.
On fourth-and-2, Sacks' final pass fell incomplete with 1:01 left and no timeouts remaining.
“Both teams played great defense,” Lupa said. “Drew Kesselman had a huge second half interception.”
POB JFK is the model of success for flag football on Long Island. Coach Alec Abramowitz huddled with his team afterward.
“I feel for our senior girls, they’ve had a terrific run,” he said. “They had awesome careers. Our defense was great. The wind was definitely a factor for both teams.”
Heyman and wide receiver Zoe Franks took photos and celebrated with teammates.
“This is just unreal,” Franks said. “This is the greatest feeling to finally win this game.”
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
