Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK freshman QB Jadyn Barnhill helps Hawks come back to win 46th straight game
Plainview-Old Bethpage quarterback Jadyn Barnhill avoids the pass rush of Ella Fleischer (right) and Roxie Gunning (center) of Massapequa during a Nassau flag football game in Massapequa on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
With Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK trailing by two touchdowns and the program’s 45-game winning streak hanging in the balance, freshman quarterback Jadyn Barnhill didn’t blink — she launched.
In just her third career game, Barnhill completed 8 of 9 passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns of 47, 42 and 18 yards in the second half to lead Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK to a 26-13 comeback victory over host Massapequa in a Nassau A flag football game Saturday afternoon.
Barnhill completed 8 of 14 passes overall for the defending state champion Hawks, who improved to 8-0 and extended their winning streak to 46, which dates to the start of the 2022-23 season.
“I knew I had to step up in this game and help my team,” said Barnhill, the lone freshman on a senior-heavy roster. “Everyone getting pumped up and encouraging me helped me make the right plays.”
Trailing 13-0 late in the first half following a pick-6 by Massapequa’s Reese Reustle, Plainview relied on its defense. Seniors Maddie Holland and Emma Heaney halted Massapequa’s momentum, with Holland recording two sacks and Heaney batting down three passes and pulling five flags to force two straight three-and-outs.
Then Barnhill took over.
On the Hawks’ first snap of the second half, she uncorked a 47-yard strike to Heaney in stride as Plainview got within 13-7.
“Getting the first touchdown starts that momentum,” Heaney said. “It proved that we could win. We kept the energy up from there.”
Barnhill followed on the next possession with completions of 8, 19, and 12 yards to set up Heaney’s 2-yard rushing touchdown and the go-ahead extra point, putting Plainview up 14-13 with 15:12 left.
“We go as she goes,” coach Alec Abramowitz said of Heaney. “When she stays up and positive, the girls follow her lead.”
Later in the half, Barnhill completed a 42-yard touchdown pass to Emily Brake and capped the scoring with an 18-yard dart to Rachel Ganz.
“She stepped up in a huge spot today,” Abramowitz said of Barnhill. “She had a lot of composure and more trust in herself in this performance.”
Massapequa (6-3) got off to a fast start with quarterback Delaney Donato finding Reustle for a 9-yard touchdown pass and completing an extra-point pass to Roxie Gunning for a 7-0 lead. But the relentless pressure from Holland and airtight coverage by Heaney held Massapequa scoreless in the second half.
“It felt great to keep pushing them back,” Holland said. “Going in, the plan was to keep them in the backfield and it worked. Our momentum and energy were huge for the win.”
Plainview’s resilience once again proved championship-worthy.
“We never gave up no matter what,” Holland added. “We trust Jadyn a lot… and she earned it today.”
