Shoreham-Wading River flag football gains spot in state final after Brenna Molinelli's pick-6 in double OT
Shoreham-Wading River's Brenna Molinelli holds the ball after a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown in a state Class C flag football semifinal on June 6, 2026, in Cortland. Credit: Todd F. Michalek
CORTLAND — Brenna Molinelli saw where the ball was going, and next thing she knew, it was in her hands. And then she was in the end zone.
Molinelli put Shoreham-Wading River into the flag football Class C state final after she returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown in a thrilling 14-8 double-overtime win over previously undefeated Westlake in the state semifinals at Cortland High School.
"I kept looking down, I didn't even know I had my flags on," said Molinelli, a freshman who raced to the end zone after evading multiple defenders trying to grab her flag. "My coach kept telling me to go and keep going, and I said, 'Oh my gosh, is this really happening?' "
"She's a quiet, laid-back kind of kid, but she's been making plays like that for us all year," coach Bob DeSilva said. "She had a couple of game-winning touchdowns for us this year. She's the ultimate athlete."
Shoreham-Wading River (12-4), in its inaugural season, will face reigning state champion Pioneer in the state final at 1:15 p.m. Sunday at Homer High School.
Molinelli also had six catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. Shealyn Varbero found Molinelli on a go-rout and she took it 59 yards for a score to give the Wildcats an 8-0 lead in the third quarter. SWR had led 2-0 at halftime after a first-quarter safety.
"The ball is up in there for so long, definitely a little nerve-wracking," Molinelli said. "But when I caught the ball, I knew I could get the touchdown."
Westlake responded with a touchdown of their own when Juliana DiMarino connected with Isabella Murray for a 4-yard score early in the fourth quarter. DiMarino rushed in for the two-point conversion to tie it at 8.
One of the defensive keys for SWR was DeSilva's decision to put Mia Mangano, a safety, as a rusher for the first time this season. He felt she had the speed and athleticism to contain the dual-threat DiMarino (153 yards rushing, 78 yards passing). Mangano had four sacks.
"Coach talked to me before the game about using my moves because we knew about [DiMarino] and how she liked to run," Mangano said. "Having my other rushers, Gia [Politi] and Marisa [Cacciola], was very helpful, and they communicated well with me."
Westlake suffered its first loss after starting the season 20-0. "I'm super proud of my team. We had a historical run," Westlake coach Lowell Robinson said. "Our first loss was in overtime, [Shoreham-Wading River] gave it their all out there, credit to them."
Said DeSilva, "I know we have what it takes to be a state champion. It would be a dream come true. It would make these girls legends for the rest of their lives."
Jonathan Ruban covers high school sports for Newsday after graduating from St. John’s.
