- April 22, 2024
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FPC's Emma Swearingen reaches for yards as Molly Crossland (9) makes the tackle. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Emma Laupepa looks to pass. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Giva Clavizzao runs for yards after making the catch. Photo by Brent Woronoff
The Bulldogs celebrate Annalia Torres' (21) touchdown catch with less than 20 seconds left in the game. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Soleana St. Louis-Bland pulls a New Smyrna Beach player's flags. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Emma Laupepa throws a pass as Soleana St. Louis-Bland gets in the way of a New Smyrna Beach player. Photo by Brent Woronoff
NSB quarterback Emma Corr (15) is stopped by FPC. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Zarah Burgess (16) closes in on NSB quarterback Emma Corr. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC huddles up. Photo by Brent Woronoff
As Emma Laupepa walked off the Flagler Palm Coast field for the final time, images of her senior flag football season flashed through her head.
"It was definitely a fun season. There was never a dull moment," the quarterback said. "We never had a down practice. We were always motivating each other."
The Bulldogs had a chance to extend their season. With less than 20 seconds left, Annalia Torres caught a touchdown pass from Laupepa to pull FPC within a point of New Smyrna Beach in a District 3-2A quarterfinal on April 27. But Laupepa's extra-point pass fell incomplete, and the Barracudas moved on to the semifinals with a 13-12 win.
"It was definitely a fun season. There was never a dull moment. We never had a down practice. We were always motivating each other."
EMMA LAUPEPA
"It was a hard way to lose — by one point," Laupepa said. We played our hearts out until the last whistle. We played one of our best games."
Torres caught the fourth-down touchdown pass on an 8-yards-and-in route, the same route she ran to score the Bulldogs' first touchdown on a catch-and-run in the second quarter.
"I told her, 'You're my main read for this. I need you to get open,'" Laupepa said. "She was right there."
New Smyrna went ahead 13-6 in the third quarter on quarterback Emma Corr's touchdown run. Until the final drive, the 'Cudas' defense held the Bulldogs in check in the second half.
"Their defense definitely came to play," Laupepa said.
New Smyrna went ahead on Maylee Smith's touchdown catch and extra point in the second quarter. FPC was unsuccessful on both of its extra points, and that turned out to be the difference.
Bulldogs coach Tony Coates said there was some confusion on the route on their final extra-point try.
"We'd make the same call again," he said. "I have trust in the team. It just didn't go our way that time."
the 'Cudas were able to hold possession with an effective option-run game. Corr ran for 70 yards and passed for 60 yards. Julia Clayton added 75 yards rushing.
The Bulldogs were hosting the district tournament with four quarterfinals played on two fields on April 27. The Bulldogs and 'Cudas played on the football practice field with Spruce Creek and Atlantic Coast playing on the stadium field. Creek, Fleming Island and Mandarin also won their quarterfinal contests.
Fleming Island defeated Spruce Creek 25-0 to win the district championship on April 28. In the semifinals earlier in that evening, Creek defeated New Smyrna 20-0 and Fleming defeated Mandarin 20-0.
The Bulldogs, who ended the season with a 6-6 record, will lose five seniors including Zarah Burgess and Alanna Snell and captains Laupepa, Ray Giaccone and Giva Clavizzao. Torres, a junior, is moving to St. Johns County.
"I'm kind of disappointed I have to leave," she said. "This is probably as close a team I've ever been involved with."
