From Cayman Islands Flag Football Association

The Burger King Panthers continue to show their dominance on the gridiron.

The Panthers remain unbeaten in the Cayman Islands Flag Football Association 2013 Digicel Summer League. Burger King, 8-0, had its most impressive victory of the year last Saturday in week eight of the 12-week season, by beating the 5-3 dms West Bay Hellcats, 23-0.

Burger King captain Brendon Malice states his side’s success at the Ed Bush Sports Centre in West Bay boils down to role players.

“A full team effort each week is what we bring,” Malice said. “Yet there are a lot of guys who don’t get the recognition they deserve. Steve Ebanks has been a strong lineman for many seasons. Chris Allen is playing one of the hardest positions in the league at centre, he’s under-sized, yet doing a tremendous job.

“Samuel Anderson contributes. Jamuel Dell, each week he’s making big plays on defence and no one knows who he is. Rhod Taylor, right now, is one of the best linemen in the league, having a highlight reel in the first few games with all the pancake blocks he’s had.

“Rhod, like the rest of us, doesn’t need the limelight. He wants to win, just like the rest of us.”

It was a dominant display from Burger King throughout, as the defence frustrated Hellcats quarterback Jacob ‘Frecko’ Ebanks. On offence, the Panthers thrived under QB Chris Lucas with veteran wide-out Taj Haye having another big game with multiple touchdowns.

Though Hellcat veterans Craig Frederick and Oliver Parker tried to will their team to victory, ultimately it was the intensity from Panthers like Paul Chin and Simon Rivers that made the difference.

While the Panthers are riding high in first place, the loss keeps the Hellcats fourth in the Men’s Premier League standings. The four-time reigning champions are looking up at the 6-1-1 Maples Dolphins and the 6-2 Lone Star Mustangs.

Maples, bolstered by the return of QB Barrett Edri, clobbered the 1-7 KPMG Sharks, 20-6, last Saturday while QB Jamie Stephen led the Mustangs as they rolled over Theon McCoy’s 0-8 WestStar Saints, 27-0.

The Hellcats have to watch the latter half of the rankings. Sonny Powell’s 3-1-4 Cox Colts and Peter Whittaker’s 2-6 Cayman Power Sports and Marine Hurricanes are within striking distance, with KPMG and WestStar in the cellar. The Hurricanes beat the Colts, 19-12, last Saturday.

Meanwhile, the standings have tightened in the Women’s Premier League as early frontrunners CrossFit 7Mile Scorpions, 6-2, have slipped into third place behind the Lynx and Wolverines, both 6-2. Monique Roberts’ Scorpions suffered their second loss last Saturday to Saneata Smith’s Lynx, 12-13. Benieca Thompson’s Wolverines waltzed to victory over Brittany Ebanks’ 2-1-5 Star Athletic Club, 34-6.

CrossFit are followed by 5-3 Zulu Warriors, 5-3 Androgroup Killa-Panthers, 4-4 Ultra B’zzz, 4-4 Lady Sharks, Star Athletic, 1-1-6 Maples Thundercats and 0-8 Lady Saints.

On Saturday July 27th, Janyccee Parchment led Zulu to victory over Tricia Miller’s Maples Thundercats, 26-0. Alicia Dixon and the Killa-Panthers rocked Paulette McField’s B’zzz, 20-0 and Scimone Campbell’s Lady Sharks topped Monique Connolly’s Lady Saints, 13-0.

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Burger King squad having it their way.

The 2013 Digicel Summer League, put on by the Cayman Islands Flag Football Association, is now eight weeks into the season.

With playoff seeding a focal point at this stage, teams are keen to play their best football at the Ed Bush Sports Centre in West Bay. This was apparent in the feature match-up of the week between reigning champions dms West Bay Hellcats and the undefeated Burger King Panthers, the league’s only unbeaten team.

Early on, Burger King proved they came to play and stay flawless atop the Men’s Premier League. Panthers quarterback Chris Lucas completed 10 of 14 passes, finding receiver Taj Haye in the end zone early in the first half to get the Panthers on the board. Hellcats, led by QB Jacob ‘Frecko’ Ebanks, seemed unable to answer back.

While the Panthers excelled offensively, it was their defence that looked the sharpest. Andrew Frederick led the way with two interceptions. The Hellcat defence, led by Craig Frederick’s two sacks and three tackles, could not stop the Panthers and Burger King rolled to a 23-0 victory.

In the early game, the Maples Dolphins took on the KPMG Sharks. Barrett Edri, who is now back on Island, stepped back into the saddle at QB and didn’t miss a beat, going 12-for-16. Leslie Harvey led the squad with six receptions and two TDs.

KPMG QB Ryne Staback would struggle while the Sharks defence proved unable to stop Dolphin threats like Christopher Bennett as Maples won, 20-6.

In other action, the Cayman Power Sports and Marine Hurricanes faced a Cox Colts still gelling using new recruits. Donnie House took over the Hurricanes QB spot, allowing Glenn Duran Jr. to use his speed as a receiver. House threw no picks and three TDs, with two of them going to Selkirk Watler and the other to Junior McField.

Cox’s defence featured Ross Hinds with three tackles. Colts QB Kevin Solomon kept the score close with TD passes to Jonathon Ebanks and Jonny McLaughlin. Ultimately, the Hurricanes won, 19-12.

The Lone Star Mustangs defeated the WestStar Saints, 27-0. The QB position for WestStar was shared between incumbent hurler Rolfo Whitaker and team captain Theon McCoy. Both men struggled against a Mustangs defence led by Todd Hazlewood’s four tackles. Will Koutney, Neil Carle and Josh Parsons each had picks to shut down the Saints offence.

Theo Edman led the Saints defence with three tackles with other notable defenders being Avery Ebanks and Damion Rose.

In the Women’s Premier League, the AndroGroup Killa-Panthers were coming off a two-game losing streak when they faced the Ultra B’zzz. Androgroup came out determined as QB Lisa Malice threw three passing TDs. The Killa-Panthers would find the end zone three times to win, 20-0.

For the B’zzz, QB Anna Nyaundi went 18-for-28 and Marleena Smith proved to be the hot route with a team-high seven receptions. Sasha Tatum led the defence with one pick and seven tackles.

The Wolverines kept their winning streak alive this week, beating Star Athletic Club, 34-6. Last week’s star player, QB Antoinette Lewis, led the Wolverines with three passing TDs caught by Benecia Thompson and Sophia Foster. Star Athletic QB Kelly Pope had a hard time as Wolverines defender Shinette Rhoden posted four tackles.

Star Athletic did have bright spots as Amanda Nelson posted seven tackles and a pick that she ran back for a TD. Leyla Jackson also recorded five tackles for her team and the result is a positive vibe for coach Lawrence Nelson.

“We’re young and we’re growing”, Nelson said.

The Wolverines are now one of three teams with a 6-2 record. Given the determining factor is points deferential, the Wolverines are now the top seed for the ladies.

The other two 6-2 sides, the CrossFit 7Mile Scorpions and the Lynx, faced off last Saturday. Lynx QB Kim Rivers went 13-for-20 with one passing and one rushing TD. Alex Terry led the offence with four receptions. Scorpions QB Jessica Pawlik threw two TDs while Monique Roberts and Cassandra Bodden led the offence with five receptions and a TD each.

Ed Bush field saw the contest go into overtime with the Lynx prevailing, 13-12, to grab second place and push CrossFit into third.

Zulu Warriors shut out the Maples Thundercats, 26-0. Led by QBs Dionne Whittaker and Jessica Ebanks, the Warriors moved the ball well. Whittaker and Ebanks each posted passing TDs. Bianca Johnson and Shenel Gal each caught TDs.

Maples QB Vanessa Noble threw two picks while Laura McLaughlin and Martina Bodden led the Maples defence with five tackles apiece and Tiffany Ebanks recorded a sack. In spite of those efforts, Maples head coach Shawn Pitterson states improvement is paramount.

“We know what we have to work on and we are going to do just that,” Pitterson said.

The last game of the day saw the Lady Sharks face the Lady Saints. Scimone Campbell got the Lady Sharks on the board with a rushing TD and Serena Yates did the same with a pick she ran back for a TD.

The Lady Saints would shine on defence as Amaris Smith notched four tackles and a sack. As a result, the Sharks barely won, 13-0, in the Lady Saints’ closest game of the season. The play of newcomers like Monique Connolly is most pleasing to team captain Tamika Byrd.

“I can see the growth we are making and I’m extremely proud of my teammates,” Byrd said.

Congratulations are in order for the players of the week: Lisa Malice (Women’s Offence), Amanda Nelson (Women’s Defence), Donnie House (Men’s Offence) and Will Peguero Jr. (Men’s Defence).

Another related story:

Dolphins had us flipping out!

Jul 30, 2013, 8:41 am

The Miami Dolphins catered to pigskin lovers in the Cayman Islands.

The Dolphins staged an American football camp in George Town last week at the T.E. McField Sports Centre (popularly called the Annex). Some 150 kids turned out for the two-day event, the first of its kind in Cayman.

Leading the contingent was Twan Russell, who is director of the Dolphins youth and community outreach programme. The former Miami linebacker said it was a wonderful experience being in Cayman.

“It was amazing, the people are beautiful and amazing,” Russell said. “It was amazing that we were given the opportunity to see this place. I’ve been to a lot of other places and, honestly, I don’t recall if I have been anywhere nicer. Everything went great and it was a good opportunity to reach the kids and show them a different sport.”

The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism partnered with the National Football League franchise for the camp with the Cayman Islands Flag Football Association, the country’s governing body for flag football, endorsing the event. Aimed at youngsters ages 6 to 14, the sessions taught American football fundamentals like passing, catching and defending.

Russell, 39, played for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003 and was among several former greats at the camp. The coaching staff featured Troy Drayton, Sam Madison, Oronde Gadsden, Ed Perry, Derrick Rodgers, Lorenzo Hampton, Donnell Bennett and James Brown. Team mascot T.D. was also present.

Drayton, 42, made a promotional visit in May along with Russell and said the turnout was better than expected.

“Everything was amazing, I was pleased to see the kids out with their families and parents,” Drayton said. “For a first-time-ever camp to have over 125 kids is incredible and makes for an amazing trip. It shows how deep Miami roots are here in Cayman.”

For more on these stories go to:

http://www.ciffa.ky/index.php?p=news#b252148