Sandusky flag football perfect at midway point

SANDUSKY — Sandusky's decision to field a girls flag football team is working out just fine. The Blue Streaks defeated Elyria 20-6 on Sunday at Strobel Field to improve to 5-0 in the new sport being played this spring by more than 100 high schools statewide. "What I like about this team is how much fun they have," Sandusky coach Mitch Sweet said. "Every day at practice is high energy. No one complains; they're excited for each other. It doesn't matter who's making the plays on offense or defense. It's fun to watch them enjoy the sport." Sandusky has 35 girls on its roster and the team celebrated Senior Day before playing its last home game. The Streaks have five games remaining and hope to qualify for the state playoffs. "It helps to have some really good athletes," Sweet said. "We're fortunate to have the leading touchdown receiver in the league (Maekhiya Rameau) and one of the best quarterbacks in the league (Brooklyn Long). When they have a connection going it's fun to tell them what we're seeing on the sideline and they go out and execute it. It's fun to watch when it's clicking." It was clicking Sunday morning. Long and Rameau connected for three touchdowns, plus a 2-point conversion. The biggest play of the game came in the second half (the game is played with two 20-minute halves and a running clock) after Elyria scored on a long touchdown pass to cut Sandusky's lead to 14-8. Facing fourth down deep in their own territory, Long found Rameau in traffic over the middle. Rameau eluded Elyria's defense and sprinted to the end zone to give Sandusky a 20-8 advantage. "(Sweet) told me to just launch it," said Long. "I trusted Khiya to grab it because that's what she does every time." The two seniors have teamed up for nine touchdowns this season. "She was gonna chuck it up. I told her to launch it because I wasn't gonna stop running," Rameau said. "They had number 6, who they talked about being on me the whole game. I found the ball and went toward the middle and grabbed it. I had number 6 on me and got past her for a touchdown. I like to shimmy; it's all hips." Sweet figured he could gamble with a throw downfield because a failed fourth down play in flag football means the team that makes a stop takes over at its own 5-yard line. The field is about 50 yards long. (Three other league games were played at the same time as the Sandusky-Elyria matchup). "We kinda dropped it over the middle and I thought, well, it's fourth down and knowing the field position game is a little different than it is in boys football I said let's give it a ride," Sweet said. "I told (Long) in the huddle to throw it as far as you can. (Rameau) was open and outran everybody for a touchdown. It was great throw and great catch." Rameau got Sandusky on the board with a 25-yard touchdown catch near the end of the first half. She made a nice grab for the 2-point conversion. "Brooklyn is a great quarterback. She understands our zones," Rameau said. "If she doesn't have anything she'll look at me. We're like a dynamic duo." That duo connected on a big gain in the second half and Long found Rameau for a 1-yard score and 14-0 lead. Sandusky's defense did its part, too, making a goal-line stand to deny Elyria a touchdown in the second half. "We've got some elite flag-pullers at corner," Sweet said. "Any time they try to run the ball or get outside, Journey Newell and Brieauna Wright are ready to turn stuff in. We have some amazing blitzes — Vivian Johnson and we used Janya Guttierez over the middle today." Egypt Stockett, Ma'Liyah Reed and Evangeline Martin are other key defenders. "We attack and rally to the ball so fast," Sweet said. "If they are lucky enough to catch it, we are surrounding the ball carrier immediately." Sandusky has five games remaining in the regular season. The Streaks play in the 11-team Orange Division — West. The league champion will qualify for a 16-team state playoff bracket. Eleven league champions and five at-large teams will play in the postseason. "We have some really tough tests coming up," Sweet said. "We got Avon Lake and Midview on Friday. We also have Strongsville. I told the girls the conference goes through us." The Streaks want to play as long as possible. For Rameau — who also competes in track & field and softball — that means extending a busy schedule. She was the girls MVP at a track invitational at Clyde last Friday. "I go to each practice when I can. (The coaches) make it work," she said. "I want to go to every single practice. Football is so fun. Nothing but catching and throwing and running." Joining Long and Rameau for Senior Day honors were Dayzha Lane, Ka'Mari Fleming, Zaira Nava, Sadie Jarrett Jackson and Kylie Gant. "The only regret I have about them is I don't get them for another year," Sweet said. "Our senior leadership has helped us a lot. The younger girls have gravitated toward it and learned from them." All of the Streaks have learned that they play on a good football team. "I didn't expect this, such a good program for it being our first year," Long said. "I'm proud of everyone coming to practice on the cold days, the hot days, all of it." Added Rameau: "I knew we had a bunch of athletes, a whole variety of people. I have a lot of confidence in myself so I knew I could do whatever it takes to get us on the board. This season is fun. Even though we make mistakes, it doesn't matter. Scoreboard."