Red & Green Prevail

The final score that day read: Legends 33, Red & Green 0.

It was a different story Wednesday night.

Senior Ella Propheter connected with junior Kaylee Leeper on a swing pass late in the first half and the latter took it to the house for a 49-yard touchdown. That score stood up the rest of the way as No. 3 Jamestown held off No. 6 Lancaster 6-0 in a sectional quarterfinal at Strider Field.

The win sets up a semifinal matchup Friday at No. 2 Orchard Park, which advanced by virtue of a 32-15 win over No. 7 Sweet Home last night.

Jamestown’s Ella Propheter looks get past a Lancaster defender in Wednesday’s Section VI Division 1 flag football quarterfinal playoff game at Strider Field.
P-J photo by Tim Frank

While Jamestown head coach Steve Propheter certainly would have liked to play another home game, he was more than happy to know that the Red & Green’s season would continue for at least a few more days.

“The girls saw what they did wrong (in the first meeting with Lancaster), we asked them to fix it and they did,” Coach Propheter said.

And the way Jamestown (6-4) played left Coach Propheter a happy man.

“We’re really proud of the girls and the attitude they have out there,” he added. “It’s a no-quit attitude.”

As has been the case this spring, Ella Propheter and Leeper were the catalysts to the win against their Erie County rival.

Ella Propheter completed 5 of 16 passes for 74 yards, rushed 11 times for 69 yards, collected 14 flag pulls and had a pass breakup.

“We did not play our greatest (against Lancaster last month),” she admitted. “We had confidence we would play really good (this time). Our girls prepared so well.”

For her part, Leeper had what Coach Propheter described as a “huge night,” rushing 11 times for 36 yards; catching three passes for 70 yards and the TD; collecting five flag pulls and five pass breakups; and intercepting a pass late in the game deep in Jamestown’s territory to thwart a Lancaster scoring threat.

“We asked her to run downhill, that’s what she did and she made a couple good moves and there she is in the end zone,” Steve Propheter said.

Also contributing to Jamestown’s defensive shutout were senior Dainys Cruz and sophomore Abbee Brandow with five flag pulls each.

While official statistics were not available for the Legends, quarterback Julie Benham connected with Alexa Wolf, Makayla Sand, Katie Kruczkowski and Caroline Helenbrook throughout the game, but a bad snap just inside Jamestown territory in the closing moments resulted in a turnover. Ella Propheter took one snap, found running room for 14 yards before her flag was pulled as time expired.

The winner of Friday night’s game advances to the sectional championship at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. That game is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday.

“Our goal at the beginning of the season was to make the sectional finals and we’re knocking at the door,” Coach Propheter said. “We’re 0-0 now. If we’re 1-0 Friday night, we get to go down the tunnel (at Highmark Stadium on Monday).”