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WAPPINGERS FALLS ― Jasmine Triunfo watched the route develop and, having picked up on a tendency in the offense, she anticipated where the pass might be headed. With a read of the quarterback and faith in her instincts, the defensive back redirected as the ball was released.
Timing her break, she dashed in front of the receiver for a highlight-worthy interception.
It was the kind of play a seasoned defender might make, capitalizing on years of experience and hours of film study.
“I think I learned that from basketball,” the Arlington High School senior said April 23. “It’s like being in a zone and you’re paying attention to the passing lanes. You’re watching for where the ball might go.”
And that’s one way to compensate for never having played football… not even in the backyard.
Triunfo turned that turnover into a fast break, so to speak, returning it 46 yards for the clinching touchdown with 1:22 remaining as the Admirals beat Wappingers, 20-12, in girls flag football.
She had two second-half interceptions and four pass breakups, including a deflection that forced a turnover on downs to end the game. What followed were her teammates’ chants of “grilled cheese,” playfully hinting at Triunfo’s preferred celebration meal.
“She has basketball eyes,” Arlington coach Michael Schoonmaker said of Triunfo, who also excelled defensively for the basketball team. “She knows how to make plays on the ball, and she came up big for us in the clutch.”
Last year: Poughkeepsie glad for bolstered roster as flag football grows in popularity
Visual proof: Arlington wins in dramatic fashion, continuing lacrosse turnaround
Up to par: Deserre, Arlington shine in Mid-Hudson Regional golf tournament
Chase Harris threw a touchdown to Scarlett Cavallo and Gianna Martin rushed for a score, accounting for the Admirals’ earlier points. This, Triunfo said, “is a lot of fun.”
They’re among a cadre of rookies on this team, which is a month into its inaugural season. When Arlington announced last fall that it would add the sport, joining a wave of other area schools, it piqued the interest of several talented and intrepid novices.
Likewise for Wappingers, a district team combining players from John Jay-East Fishkill and Roy C. Ketcham, that made its flag football debut this spring. Ava Jordan starred for them, the Pace-bound soccer star throwing two touchdowns and getting an interception in the red zone.
“I’d never tried it before, but my dad played football for Arlington and I know a little about the sport through him,” said Gia Ramputi, a member of the Section 1 champion girls soccer team. “Plus, it’s cool to be a part of something brand new.”
Arlington’s roster includes athletes from a range of sports including swimming, track and field and softball, each of whom have shown the confidence to learn before an audience.
“As soon as I heard we were getting a team, I jumped at the chance,” said Evelyn Warner, captain of the Wappingers gymnastics team who now also moonlights as a free safety. “I love team sports, where we’re working together and depending on each other, so this definitely appealed to me.”
Showcased throughout was their athleticism, evident on those cut-back runs, the spin moves and jukes, and some leaping catches. Toughness, too, as players sprang to their feet after some inadvertent collisions.
As impressive has been the players’ ability to grasp the basics and some football terminology in short time. At one point during the game, Wappingers coach Jim Phelan discussed with his players route combinations out a trips formation. That would’ve sounded like a foreign language two months ago, Warner said.
Phelan previously coached football at Our Lady of Lourdes and Beacon. Schoonmaker has coached baseball and football at Arlington. His sister, Andrea Schoonmaker, guided the Marlboro softball team to a state title last June.
“We really broke it down, starting with formations and position names,” said Schoonmaker who worked with assistant coach Brendan Hunt to teach the fundamentals during open-gym sessions in the winter. “We’re still coming up with things in practice we hadn’t gone over before. They’ll ask, ‘What’s that? What does that mean?’ They’re learning as they go but doing a great job with it.”
Martin played football against boys as a child, but her teammates are true newbies. Harris, their starting quarterback, hadn’t thrown a football before this year and the sophomore developed a spiral during preseason practices.
“It’s a little tricky going from a sport that you play with your feet to one that uses mostly your hands,” said Ramputi, a midfielder turned running back. “But we’re committed to learning and our coaches have done an amazing job.”
Arlington (3-5) went up 13-0 on Martin’s touchdown with 15:23 left in the first half before the Titans rallied. Kaleigh Horos was elusive out of the backfield and Jordan, a dual-threat quarterback, threw touchdowns to Charlotte Guzzo and Megan Terralavoro.
Jordan slipped a pass rusher and rolled right before throwing a 15-yard curl to Terralavoro in the end zone, pulling them within 13-12 with 8:01 remaining. Arlington’s defense stiffened after that and Triunfo’s pick-6 created the margin.
“Yes,” Ramputi said, the bragging rights matter and “we’re 3-0 against them this year,” jokingly including the girls soccer team’s two wins over John Jay in that total. The rivals will meet again at Arlington on May 2.
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association partnered with the NFL to introduce girls flag football in 2022, with eight sections creating leagues for what began as a pilot program. It quickly became popular and there now are about 200 varsity teams in the state.
Poughkeepsie was the first Dutchess County school to add it in 2023, and some local Section 9 schools joined last year including Rhinebeck, Highland and Our Lady of Lourdes.
“I knew a little about the rules from watching my brother play,” Evelyn said, referring to Blake Warner, an Arlington graduate. “He hurt his knee badly as a sophomore and had to give up football. But he’s my inspiration in everything, and part of the reason I wanted to play this sport.”
Stephen Haynes: [email protected]; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Flag football: Triunfo help Arlington top Wappingers in augural season
Continue reading...
Timing her break, she dashed in front of the receiver for a highlight-worthy interception.
It was the kind of play a seasoned defender might make, capitalizing on years of experience and hours of film study.
You must be registered for see images attach
“I think I learned that from basketball,” the Arlington High School senior said April 23. “It’s like being in a zone and you’re paying attention to the passing lanes. You’re watching for where the ball might go.”
And that’s one way to compensate for never having played football… not even in the backyard.
Triunfo turned that turnover into a fast break, so to speak, returning it 46 yards for the clinching touchdown with 1:22 remaining as the Admirals beat Wappingers, 20-12, in girls flag football.
You must be registered for see images
She had two second-half interceptions and four pass breakups, including a deflection that forced a turnover on downs to end the game. What followed were her teammates’ chants of “grilled cheese,” playfully hinting at Triunfo’s preferred celebration meal.
“She has basketball eyes,” Arlington coach Michael Schoonmaker said of Triunfo, who also excelled defensively for the basketball team. “She knows how to make plays on the ball, and she came up big for us in the clutch.”
Last year: Poughkeepsie glad for bolstered roster as flag football grows in popularity
Visual proof: Arlington wins in dramatic fashion, continuing lacrosse turnaround
Up to par: Deserre, Arlington shine in Mid-Hudson Regional golf tournament
Chase Harris threw a touchdown to Scarlett Cavallo and Gianna Martin rushed for a score, accounting for the Admirals’ earlier points. This, Triunfo said, “is a lot of fun.”
You must be registered for see images attach
They’re among a cadre of rookies on this team, which is a month into its inaugural season. When Arlington announced last fall that it would add the sport, joining a wave of other area schools, it piqued the interest of several talented and intrepid novices.
Likewise for Wappingers, a district team combining players from John Jay-East Fishkill and Roy C. Ketcham, that made its flag football debut this spring. Ava Jordan starred for them, the Pace-bound soccer star throwing two touchdowns and getting an interception in the red zone.
“I’d never tried it before, but my dad played football for Arlington and I know a little about the sport through him,” said Gia Ramputi, a member of the Section 1 champion girls soccer team. “Plus, it’s cool to be a part of something brand new.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Arlington’s roster includes athletes from a range of sports including swimming, track and field and softball, each of whom have shown the confidence to learn before an audience.
“As soon as I heard we were getting a team, I jumped at the chance,” said Evelyn Warner, captain of the Wappingers gymnastics team who now also moonlights as a free safety. “I love team sports, where we’re working together and depending on each other, so this definitely appealed to me.”
Showcased throughout was their athleticism, evident on those cut-back runs, the spin moves and jukes, and some leaping catches. Toughness, too, as players sprang to their feet after some inadvertent collisions.
You must be registered for see images attach
As impressive has been the players’ ability to grasp the basics and some football terminology in short time. At one point during the game, Wappingers coach Jim Phelan discussed with his players route combinations out a trips formation. That would’ve sounded like a foreign language two months ago, Warner said.
Phelan previously coached football at Our Lady of Lourdes and Beacon. Schoonmaker has coached baseball and football at Arlington. His sister, Andrea Schoonmaker, guided the Marlboro softball team to a state title last June.
“We really broke it down, starting with formations and position names,” said Schoonmaker who worked with assistant coach Brendan Hunt to teach the fundamentals during open-gym sessions in the winter. “We’re still coming up with things in practice we hadn’t gone over before. They’ll ask, ‘What’s that? What does that mean?’ They’re learning as they go but doing a great job with it.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Martin played football against boys as a child, but her teammates are true newbies. Harris, their starting quarterback, hadn’t thrown a football before this year and the sophomore developed a spiral during preseason practices.
“It’s a little tricky going from a sport that you play with your feet to one that uses mostly your hands,” said Ramputi, a midfielder turned running back. “But we’re committed to learning and our coaches have done an amazing job.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Arlington (3-5) went up 13-0 on Martin’s touchdown with 15:23 left in the first half before the Titans rallied. Kaleigh Horos was elusive out of the backfield and Jordan, a dual-threat quarterback, threw touchdowns to Charlotte Guzzo and Megan Terralavoro.
Jordan slipped a pass rusher and rolled right before throwing a 15-yard curl to Terralavoro in the end zone, pulling them within 13-12 with 8:01 remaining. Arlington’s defense stiffened after that and Triunfo’s pick-6 created the margin.
“Yes,” Ramputi said, the bragging rights matter and “we’re 3-0 against them this year,” jokingly including the girls soccer team’s two wins over John Jay in that total. The rivals will meet again at Arlington on May 2.
You must be registered for see images attach
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association partnered with the NFL to introduce girls flag football in 2022, with eight sections creating leagues for what began as a pilot program. It quickly became popular and there now are about 200 varsity teams in the state.
Poughkeepsie was the first Dutchess County school to add it in 2023, and some local Section 9 schools joined last year including Rhinebeck, Highland and Our Lady of Lourdes.
“I knew a little about the rules from watching my brother play,” Evelyn said, referring to Blake Warner, an Arlington graduate. “He hurt his knee badly as a sophomore and had to give up football. But he’s my inspiration in everything, and part of the reason I wanted to play this sport.”
Stephen Haynes: [email protected]; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Flag football: Triunfo help Arlington top Wappingers in augural season
Continue reading...
