Jen Canarutto leads Hawks through the air in victory over MacArthur
Gabi Weinstein, left, and Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK teammate Lara Glasser react after a play in the Hawks' 26-0 win over MacArthur on Friday. Credit: James Escher
After finishing an undefeated season that included the inaugural regional flag football title, the Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK team has learned a few things, including some new tricks.
The Hawks, who dominated early in the first half against MacArthur with two touchdowns on their first two possessions, were in prime position for another score when they whipped out an impressive double-reverse flea-flicker.
On fourth-and-goal with the ball at the Generals 1-yard line, Jen Canarutto took the ball out of the shotgun with wide receiver Rachel Ganz to her left.
The signal-caller handed the ball off to Ganz, who scurried to her right and flipped the ball to running back Lara Glasser, who launched the ball to a wide-open Emily Brake in the end zone, giving POB-JFK its third touchdown of the first half before it pulled away from MacArthur for a 26-0 win and its 10th shutout of the season.
“It was very exciting,” Glasser said of executing the play. “In practice, we always push for more trick plays because they’re so much fun and it boosts the team’s energy. To actually do it in a game is an incredible feeling.”
POB-JFK (15-0, 11-0) defeated MacArthur 7-6 in last year’s Nassau championship.
“We remembered how tough that game was, and we didn’t want to feel that way again,” said Gabi Weinstein, who dove into the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown pass from Canarutto on the first possession of the game. “This time, we played to our full potential from the start.”
“We wanted to come out strong and shock them off the bat,” Glasser added. “That’s been our strong suit all season and we want to continue that pattern.”
Canarutto, who completed 11 of 17 passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns, found Glasser for a 15-yard score following an interception by Alex Forman on MacArthur’s first possession. Her next connection to Glasser for the extra two-point try gave the Hawks a 14-0 lead with 16 minutes left in the first half.
“Each level, defense and offense, has improved,” Glasser said. “We haven’t given up too many first downs and we’ve improved on stopping any momentum.”
The Hawks’ final score came on a 6-yard pass from Canarutto to Ganz early in the second half. Weinstein added nine flag pulls on defense to preserve POB-JFK's lead.
POB-JFK will enter the Nassau I playoffs as the No. 1 seed. MacArthur fell to 12-3, 8-3.
"I know teams are looking at us with a target on our backs,” Weinstein said. “Going into the playoffs, we have an even bigger target on us now, but we’re confident."
