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Poucher, Sakowski blast for Cougar flag title

By Randy Lefko Sports Editor
Posted 10/12/22

LAKESIDE - Green Cove Springs Junior High flag football coach Doug Deter employed a bit of Tennessee Volunteer speed play on his offense with tailback Hayley Sakowski ripping for two long touchdowns …

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Poucher, Sakowski blast for Cougar flag title


Posted

LAKESIDE - Green Cove Springs Junior High flag football coach Doug Deter employed a bit of Tennessee Volunteer speed play on his offense with tailback Hayley Sakowski ripping for two long touchdowns and wide receiver Emily Poucher taking the air route as the Lady Cougars won the Clay County Flag Football World Championships 25-8 Monday night against Lakeside Junior High at Lakeside. Both teams entered the contest with five wins and one loss; Green Cove losing to Lakeside just two weeks ago, 7-6. Green Cove beat Oakleaf to advance with Lakeside dethroning defending champion Lake Asbury to advance.
"Hayley was hurt the last time we played Lakeside and lost a 7-6 game," said Deter, who finished with just that one regular season loss against the Lakeside Lady Gators. "With her back, we were able to use her speed to distract some plays and get Emily open downfield for passes from our quarterback Ash Madine."
Poucher used her long reach and strong hands to look a bit like Calvin "Megatron" Johnson, former Detroit Lions Hall of Famer, as she caught two passes amidst heavy traffic from the Lakeside defense.
"She's tall, athletic and just a good athlete," said Deter. "As a soccer player for us, she has a good feel on the field as to where the ball as and where she is. She made some big catches for us today."
Green Cove scored first on a fourth down stretch from Madine from the one yard line, but missed a PAT pass play to go 6-0.
On Lakeside's first series, with three minutes in the first period, Sakowski snared a pass interception that set up the next Green Cove score. Sakowski got stopped at the goal line on a breakaway and Lakeside's defense, behind rusher Kaylin Smith, held on four downs at their own goal line.
Lakeside quarterback Ella Crowe broke from the first down in the shadow of the goal line to get out to the Lakeside 22 yard line and give the Lady Gators' offense some breathing room.
Green Cove got to 19-0 off a pass catch from Poucher in traffic in the end zone just before halftime.
Crowe would get a Lakeside touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but Deter was happy to just run the clock out after a breakaway score from Sakowski put the scorer at 25-8.