CLINTONVILLE — To say the start of the game was uncharacteristic for NCCS would be an understatement.
But with just five minutes remaining, senior Krista Sebert ran down the middle for a 6-yard score that completed a rally from down 13 to win the Section VII flag football championship, 18-13.
While they had the lead, the Cougars needed a little extra magic. In comes Anna Racine.
With seconds remaining on the clock, Racine busted through the Saranac offense, running toward Spartan quarterback Isabelle Bergevin. Racine reached out and pulled Bergevin’s flag, forcing a sack.
The seconds ticked away, and NCCS players and coaches came together on the field to celebrate the comeback.
“I knew there was only a few seconds left, and I knew that my team was counting on me to get that pull, that flagpole, that sack,” Racine said. “So I went all in, and I used my speed and did as fast as I could and got around and pulled it. And then there I see five seconds left, and the game is over.”
That flag pull ended a comeback for NCCS that started midway through the second quarter.
Through their first four drives, the Cougars managed just 45 yards of total offense. Sebert had completed more passes to the opposition (2) than to her own team (1).
“We just needed patience, patience,” NCCS head coach Kristen Patnode said. “We’ll figure it out. We’ll figure it’s always a chess game, and we just need to see how they are going to come out.
“It took us a little longer than I would’ve liked. Nerves got the best of them, and I think once they figured out, once we get into a rhythm, you can’t stop us.”
With just over four minutes to go in the half, it clicked. The Cougars settled in and went to work.
On the next two drives for NCCS, Sebert went 4-4 for 108 total yards with a passing and rushing touchdown.
“Once we get that (first) touchdown, our heads just immediately lift up,” Sebert said. We got (the second) touchdown, but you know, once we got our heads up, we keep going, and our momentum just keeps, keeps us going.”
Sebert showed off her skills on the ground in the waning minutes as she rushed for 25 yards on five carries. The last one being a 5-yard dash to get within one point with 12 seconds to go in the half.
“When I see green, I go,” Sebert said. “The game’s not over until the clock hits zero. We’re in it, no matter what.”
Sebert showed her skills, running multiple times — almost breaking a run down the sideline on the final drive for NCCS. Altogether, she finished with 14 carries for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
“We’ve told her that all season when you move your feet, teams can’t stop you, and that’s exactly what happened,” Patnode said. “I thought she was gone on that, like, 60 yard scramble.”
And just as the offense started to click, the defense ramped up the intensity. Led by Section VII defensive MVP Lexi Roberts, the defense took it to another level as girls dove for flags on runs and passes to limit yards gained.
One player in particular caused havoc for the offense and Saranac quarterback Isabelle Bergevin was Racine. She was the primary rusher on defense, whose sole purpose was to get Bergevin’s flag.
The Spartans had less than 100 yards of offense and two interceptions in the second half.
“We had some pretty crucial flagpoles,” Brynn Hite said. “Honestly, I was even nervous to the end, until Anna got that sack, and then I was like, ‘OK, this is ours.’”
It closed another chapter in, as Hite called it, “the Northeastern-Saranac rivalry” that’s taken shape over the past couple of years.
Some players on the field Friday could see each other again in softball sectionals, as players for both teams are dual-sport athletes.
But Friday was for flag football. Sebert, Hite and Patnode all said the team would rest over the weekend before getting ready for a regional final.
NCCS doesn’t have to travel far, as they’ll be back at AuSable Valley to host Section II’s Catskill.
Gametime for NCCS vs. Catskill is this Saturday 6:30 p.m..
“Our goal has always been the Final Four,” Patnode said.
—
Northeastern Clinton 18, Saranac 13
SCS;7;6;0;0;—;13
NCCS;0;12;0;6;—;18
Scoring Summary
First quarter
S- Bergevin 1 run (Terry pass from Bergevin), 4:08.
Second quarter
S- Brown 13 pass from Bergevin (pass failed), 4:07.
N- Hite 19 pass from Sebert (pass failed), 2:08.
N- Sebert 4 run (pass failed), 0:12.
Fourth quarter
N- Sebert 4 run (pass failed), 5:15.
Individual statistics
Rushing
S- Hathaway 10-55; Bergevin 5-(-7), TD; Tompkins 1-6; Brown 1-5. Totals: 17-59, TD.
N- Sebert 14-95, 2TD; Racine 4-21; Hite 6-27. Totals: 24-143, 2 TD.
Passing
S- Bergevin 22-40-3-198, TD.
N- Sebert 8-21-3-85, TD.
Receiving
S- Gagnier 5-52; Terry 1-12; Brown 8-82, TD; Forgette 7-48; Hathaway 1-4.
N- Guay 1-7; Scott 2-30; Hite 5-48, TD.
Interceptions
S- Liberty; Forgette; Terry.
N- K. Stahl; Hite; Scott.