Freeport flag football shows growth

The Freeport flag football team will likely miss the playoffs this spring, but that could very well change next year thanks to some young talent and a competitive spirit that’s been on full display.

The Red Devils have won twice this season under new coach Alex Miller after mustering just one victory in 2023 and three of their losses have come by just one score. The team’s playoff hopes took a hit with a four-game losing streak that carried over into this week's action and have six games left to improve on their 1-4 Conference I mark, even though two of them are against undefeated Plainview-Old Bethpage and second-place MacArthur.

“Record-wise, it’s not ideal on paper,” Miller said. “But when you look at the film against some of these teams that are competitive, we played Valley Stream close, we lost to Massapequa [7-0], so the girls are moving in the right direction. Point wise, we’re keeping the games close for the most part.”

The team’s most recent win was a 19-6 comeback victory at Long Beach on April 10. The Marines went up 6-0 early in the game, but didn’t score the rest of the way while Kaylie Jean-Lubin threw three touchdown passes to Breanne Belizaire for the victory.

“I said, ‘Listen, if we don’t drop the ball, we’re going to move the ball on this team,’” Miller recalled. “It was just taking a deep breath, focusing on our cadences and being able to execute. The girls were getting open on their routes, Kaylie had time to throw, so it was just throw it down and let’s just execute.”

Freeport’s only other victory came two games earlier in a 20-12 triumph at Bethpage on March 26.

Belizaire has since been lost for the season due to an injury and her absence has been felt as the Red Devils’ offense only scored a combined 13 points in their last four games, all coming in a 39-13 setback at Port Washington on April 15.

“The problem with the offense is either penalties or mis-execution, dropping the ball,” Miller said. “We’re not a one-play team. [We get] drives and short yardage at a time. But third and fourth down can be very critical for us.”

Sophomore Jean-Lubin is a dual threat who possesses a strong arm and quickness on running plays and scored the team’s only touchdown in a 14-7 loss to Roslyn on March 30. Sophomores Madison Harris and Sarai Hines and freshman Sabrina Ligonde have all earned extra reps with Belizaire out and have been other playmakers on offense along with Ashley Blanco. 

Freeport’s defense has kept the team in games for much of the season and has allowed more than 20 points just twice, and two of Port Washington’s scores came on interception returns. Junior rusher Nalani Galley has been the team’s top defensive player, according to Miller, and seniors Nia Phillips and versatile Anigh Shell have also had solid seasons.  

Hines and Harris also play cornerback on defense with Leah Gaddist recently moving to safety.