HAINES CITY — Haines City flag football roared into the Class 4A FHSAA Flag Football State Championships with an unblemished record. But the Hornets were faced against the No. 23 in the nation in Steinbrenner that lost against two top five teams in the nation.
From a local perspective, it was supposed to be the clash of the titans. But it was actually a David versus Goliath matchup in which Steinbrenner (14-5) eventually won 33-7 Wednesday night at Haines City High School because of the otherworldly activities of sophomore quarterback KK Ramsey, who is a Team USA player recruited by several colleges, while also being a girls basketball player who went to the state semis and a Javelin athlete thrust into regionals next week.
The Hornets (16-1) only score was from first-team all-county quarterback
Zebrielle Canaday
— The Ledger’s 2024 Player of the Year and top high school basketball player ― who made a nasty juke before heading up field 89 yards for a touchdown with 3:18 left in the third quarter.
But Haines City head flag football coach Stephen Stansbury told it like it is.
“They’re better than us. They’re consistent. They have top players that can throw the ball. We haven’t played anybody that can throw the ball like that all year. I think the best quarterback we played all year can throw maybe 20, or 25 yards. This girl can rip it 40, 45, so it opened and stretched the defense. We had two or three girls that didn’t make it today. … I think it would have been a little bit different if we had everybody. But they are very good,” Stansbury said.
Is the reason why the Warriors were so good because Ramsey is Josh Allen’s little sister? When the Hornets played zone, Ramsey threw darts on the money, as she could flick the wrist and the ball traveled half the field. If she let it rip, she often hit targets on the money, including a 73-yard pass play to senior receiver Berkley Demeter with 7:30 left in the first, which set up a first-and-goal situation. Ramsey could also deceptively run, as she easily put a foot into the ground and evaded the rush before using her quick twitches to outrun opponents. Ramsey accounted for five touchdowns, including four passing and one rushing.
This squad from Tampa had a true team — the team ran crossing patterns that got players wide open ― as these players have been playing with or against each other since youth flag football.
“…The team is up at practice 6:30 in the morning, and it takes a strong commitment level to be a part of it. The girls enjoy each other. They have great bonds off the field…,” Steinbrenner head coach Gregg Puskas said.
Defensively, the Warriors forced Canaday into four interceptions. Everywhere on defense was senior defensive back Megan Medina, who put up six tackles and one pass breakup. Sophomore defensive back Samantha Coble registered two interceptions of her own.
On the Haines City side, senior defensive back Brearna Farquharson tallied eight tackles.
Farquharson was a part of a magnificent team that went undefeated, winning back-to-back district titles heading into the regional quarterfinals. She will be a key cog gone next year, but the main core returns, including Canaday (29 touchdowns) and junior wide receiver Mikayla Hill (10 touchdowns).
“I think we did a lot of things right. I think we did some things wrong. I think we left so much on the field…,” Haines City coach Alex Craig said.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger:
Haines City flag football finishes season winning 16 of 17, goes down to No. 23 Steinbrenner
