Girls flag football: Highland gets first two wins of season

BEDFORD — Wet and windy conditions at Bedford's Bearcat Stadium on Friday night didn't stop the Highland girls flag football team from catching a case of sticky fingers. Four interceptions returned for touchdowns and five picks overall helped the Hornets defeat Copley 33-7 and Streetsboro 13-6 after being edged by Roosevelt 25-18. Highland improved to 2-2 on the young Northern Ohio Girls Flag Football League Southern Conference Orange Division season despite persistent rain showers that made for a cool, soggy night. "We're feeling cold, but the morale is definitely high after our two wins," quarterback/wide receiver/safety Katie Peterson said. "Even though we lost one, I think we did pretty good out there." Peterson returned interceptions for touchdowns against the Rough Riders and Indians and had another pick against the Rockets. She also threw two touchdowns to Katelyn Soha against Roosevelt and one to Alicia Grimes against Copley. Playing for the Hornets for the first time, sophomore receiver Allie Green made the game-winning play in the final game of the night when she caught along touchdown pass from Laila Monter in a game that saw all of the offense come late in the second half. "In that moment, I'm just like, 'I swear to God, if the ball slips out of my hands…," Green said. "I'd tried to catch another one and it slipped out, so I'm just honed in on the whole thing. "Any time I do something good, I just try to be humble about it." Monter switched positions with Peterson midway through with the game tied 0-0 after both offenses struggled to gain much momentum. Monter tossed two touchdowns, with the first going to Amelia Price for a 6-0 advantage. Streetsboro answered right back, with Ava Scisiani hitting Olivia Johnson-Wilson for the game-tying score, but time ran out on the Rockets on their ensuing drive after Green's touchdown. Price also had a pick-six against Copley early in the second half for a 19-0 lead. That score followed Peterson's second pick-six of the night. "As much as we need offense to win the game, obviously, us slowly getting better on defense, pulling flags, keeping an eye on the ball, it helped us win these games tonight," Price said. The excitement for the sport is growing for Price, who is a veteran member of the Hornets' accomplished girls soccer team. "I know the team was strong last year, and I'm just glad to join in," Price said. "It's amazing to be a part of the beginning of a program. Hopefully, it keeps growing." Highland opened the scoring against the Indians with a strike from Peterson to Grimes, who also had a rushing touchdown and cashed in three one-point conversions. Following Grimes' rushing touchdown, Brynn Stefanec grabbed the third pick-six of the game to close the scoring. The uptick in passing defense was a welcome sight to see for the Hornets after the Rough Riders closed with passing touchdowns on their final four offensive possessions. Highland led 6-0 and 12-6 but was unable to hold off Roosevelt. Peterson started the game by picking off a pass and returning it for a touchdown. She then found Katelyn Soha to take a 12-6 lead. After the Hornets fell behind 19-12, Peterson hit Soha on the first play of the next drive for a touchdown, but the conversion attempt to Soha came up empty and the Rough Riders preserved a 19-18 lead before tacking on the final score. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Roosevelt 25, Highland 18 HIGHLAND 12 6 — 18 ROOSEVELT 6 19 — 25 First H — Katie Peterson interception return (1-point pass failed). R — N/A pass from N/A (1-point pass failed). H — Katelyn Soha pass from Peterson (1-point pass failed). Second R — N/A pass from N/A (1-point pass failed). R — N/A pass from N/A (1-point pass good). H — Soha pass from Peterson (1-point pass failed). R — N/A pass from N/A (1-point pass failed). Highland 33, Copley 7 HIGHLAND 14 20 — 33 COPLEY 0 7 — 7 First H — Alicia Grimes pass from Katie Peterson (Grimes 1-point pass from Peterson). H — Peterson interception return (Grimes 1-point pass from Peterson). Second H — Amelia Price interception return (1-point pass failed). C — n/a run (1-point pass successful). H — Grimes run (Grimes 1-point pass from Peterson). H — Brynn Stefanec interception return (conversion not attempted). Highland 13, Streetsboro 6 HIGHLAND 0 13 — 13 STREETSBORO 0 6 — 6 Second H — Amelia Price pass from Laila Monter (1-point pass failed). S — Olivia Johnson-Wilson pass from Ava Scisiani (1-point pass failed). H — Allie Green pass from Monter (Price 1-point pass from Monter).