McKenna Hovorka's two touchdowns lead Plainedge flag football past Massapequa
McKenna Hovorka of Plainedge evades Massapequa defenders during a Nassau flag football game on Monday at Massapequa. Credit: Kelvin Loarca
It felt like Massapequa had figured it out — until Plainedge freshman McKenna Hovorka stepped up and took the momentum away.
Massapequa hadn’t scored and trailed by 14 in the third quarter, but it was marching downfield.
Three straight passes were completed over the middle as they moved methodically. But on the ninth play of the drive, Hovorka intercepted a pass over the middle and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown.
Hovorka also had a rushing touchdown to lead visiting Plainedge (10-1-1) to a 28-13 victory over Massapequa (9-3) in non-league flag football on Monday.
“They kept throwing it to the tackles or centers and they got close to the end zone, and we couldn’t let that happen,” Hovorka said. “I read where the ball was going and I grabbed it.”
The game was scoreless until Plainedge quarterback Gianna Ponticello connected with Maddie Crandon for a 4-yard touchdown with 50.6 seconds left in the first quarter for a 7-0 Red Devils lead.
Crandon then delivered on defense, leaping up for an interception with 11:51 left in the second quarter.
“The ball was in the air and I went for it,” Crandon said. “The pick felt great, and so did the touchdown. It felt good to help out our team since we’re one unit together.”
Three plays later, Ponticello found Amanda Martone on a screen pass for a 16-yard touchdown. Plainedge led 14-0 with 10:00 left in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, Massapequa had a drive that spanned more than five minutes. It was 23 yards away from the end zone, but Hovorka had a different idea. Her pick-six came with 1:55 left in the quarter. She later added a 5-yard rushing touchdown, and Plainedge led 28-0 with 7:55 left in the fourth quarter.
Massapequa’s Victoria O’Neil threw touchdown passes of 47 yards to Reese Reustle and 49 yards to Annie Terranova. Massapequa trailed by 15 with 2:15 remaining, but its onside kick attempt — one play to gain 20 yards — was batted down by Plainedge’s Charlotte Norbury to seal the win.
“We knew they were a really good team, and that pick-six was huge for them,” Massapequa coach Bruce Stegner said. “If not, maybe we’re down a touchdown in the fourth quarter and maybe it’s a different game."
