- April 26, 2024
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Emma Laupepa, left, and Giva Clavizzao converge on a DeLand ball carrier. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC quarterback Emma Laupepa runs for yards. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Annalia Torres tries to avoid a DeLand defender. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Emma Laupepa pulls a flag on fourth down with 45 seconds left to ice the victory. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC players watch from the sidelines and man the down marker. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Option quarterback Annalia Torres gains yards. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC players walk off the field after defeating DeLand 18-16 in the Five Star Conference quarterfinals. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Flagler Palm Coast’s coaches told quarterback Emma Laupepa to look for receiver Giva Clavizzao. But Laupepa knows it’s not that easy.
“It all depends on the reads. By the time I get the ball, I have two seconds to make a read and throw,” she said. “But we made eye contact, and I knew it was the perfect time to throw it. It fell right in her hands.”
Clavizzao caught the ball in a seam and ran for the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter as FPC defeated DeLand 18-16 in a Five Star Conference flag football quarterfinal on March 26 at Sal Campanella Stadium.
The Bulldogs (2-2) fell to Mainland 19-0 in the semifinals on March 29. Mainland (3-0) will meet Spruce Creek (5-0) in the conference championship game at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 31 at FPC.
“We made eye contact, and I knew it was the perfect time to throw it. It fell right in her hands.”
EMMA LAUPEPA
With two seniors missing in the quarterfinal because of previous commitments, Clavizzao took on an unfamiliar role. Normally she’s the receiver who catches extra-point passes. In her four years on the team, she said she had never caught a touchdown pass. Against DeLand, she caught two.
“They didn’t have a deep safety, so once I got past the safety, I was open,” she said.
On the go-ahead score, Clavizzao could hear DeLand’s players and coaches saying, ‘Watch out for ‘2.’
“Me and Giva have had a connection for the last four years,” Laupepa said.
The score gave the host Bulldogs an 18-14 lead. They took an intentional safety with 1:32 left and then held DeLand to four downs. Laupepa pulled a flag on fourth down with 45 seconds left to secure the victory.
The players said they felt the pressure heading into the game. They were missing players, and they were playing their first home game of the year.
“The game was stressful,” said Annalia Torres, who plays receiver, safety, cornerback and is also the option quarterback in running situations. “Because we’re hosting the tournament, we knew we’d have to come back even if we didn’t win.”
But once they got on the scoreboard, they settled down, thanks to a touchdown catch from freshman Dyllis Mballesube, who moved up from JV to fill in at center. After snapping the ball, the center is allowed to go out for a pass in flag football.
“I didn’t realize I scored a touchdown until I turned around and saw I crossed the line,” Mballesube said.
“The center has the toughest job. If you can’t hike the ball, it doesn’t matter.” FPC coach Tony Coates said. “Even though we didn’t have all of our seniors, I try to tell them to be ready. Next player up.”
