BOONSBORO – Well, at least former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning used to signify his plays by yelling “Omaha.”
The Boonsboro flag football team isn’t as formal, even if it comes to naming a game-winning play.
“I don’t know,” confided Warriors quarterback Mylee Hartman. “It’s was just ‘Sarah get open and throw her the ball.’”
Nothing was lost in the translation. Sarah Mohler knew exactly to do.
Hartman turned and fired to the front left corner of the end zone and Mohler reached up for a one-hand grab with 1:17 remaining for a 16-yard touchdown to lead Boonsboro to a 13-7 victory over North Hagerstown to win its second straight Washington County Championship title.
After being shutout by the Hubs in the first half, Boonsboro (9-2) rallied for two touchdowns in the final eight minutes to pull out the victory.
Next, the Warriors, who lost in last year’s Class 2A-1A state final, will be the second seed and host the first two rounds of the West Regional. Seventh-seeded Clear Spring will play No. 10 Poolesville Tuesday or Wednesday with the winner facing Boonsboro in the nightcap of the playoff doubleheader. The winner will advance to the state semifinal at M&T Bank Stadium.
North Hagerstown (5-5) didn’t make it easy for the Warriors.
The Hubs held Hartman to 2 for 11 passing for 33 yards in the first half, including five straight incompletions to end the 24-minute, running-clock half. North didn’t all much for the run game either, holding Boonsboro to three yards on eight carries, including one in six tries for Hartman.
“It’s almost been that way every time,” said Hartman of the third meeting of the season against North.
Boonsboro had a sustained drive stall out at North’s 26 to start the second half. Meanwhile, the Warriors defense started get control of the Hubs, slowing down their progress.
After tying the game at 7-7 on an 18-yard sweep to the right by Madyson Davis with 8:00 remaining, the push was on to avoid overtime.
Boonsboro turned back North on three plays on the ensuing possession to regain possession of the ball on its 14 with 5:06 remaining after a “punt.” In flag football, a team designates it wants to kick the ball and officials place the ball at the receiving team’s 14.
The Warriors began the drive there, but needed to call timeout at 1:55 before a fourth-and-one on the North 21. Hartman got the first down with a hard-count inflection of her voice drawing the Hubs offsides.
Now on the 16, Hartman tried three consecutive throws to Mohler in front of the goal line on the “Sarah get open and throw her the ball” play.
The first was incomplete on a diving try by Mohler. The grabbed the ball but couldn’t control before it hit the ground.
The second-down try sailed high.
The final one was above Mohler’s head, but in reach for the snag for the go-ahead score. The score remained 13-7 after Boonsboro failed on the conversion.
“It was a little nerve wracking but I knew that Mylee could lead me just enough,” Mohler said, with a wink. “If I needed to dive, I could still catch it. … I could still get it a little bit.
“It was a lot of emotions (after the catch), definitely. I didn’t think I was in (the end zone) for a minute. Then I looked up and I saw the little (yardage markers). Then I knew I had to go celebrate with my team.”
Hartman knew Mohler had it all the way, even though it took three tries.
“I just had to lead her just in case those defenses are right there,” Hartman said. “I know she’ll race to the ball and get there before they do.
“We just trusted each other. When I have receivers like Sarah, I know I can trust her and Maddy. When you know you can trust, you just have confidence when I’m throwing the ball because I just trust them to catch it.”
North made a valiant effort to tie the game in the final 77 seconds.
Quarterback Harley Owen moved the Hubs inside the Boonsboro 20 on four plays, including two completions to Kylie Hollingsworth. But on the fifth play, Owen was intercepted by Mohler to put an end to the threat and the game.
“That interception, Davis – the other rusher – had me drop back to have more people back there (in the secondary),” Mohler said. “As soon as I saw that ball leave her hand, I knew I could go get it. As soon as I got it, I was kind of happy.”
North opened the game by scoring on its first possession with an eight-play drive. Owen hit Hollingsworth on the right side, who slipped into the end zone for the 5-yard score. Hollingsworth also grabbed the conversion pass for the 7-0 lead.
It stood until Davis’ second-half score.
North unofficially amassed 138 yards offensively, led by Owen’s 12 of 27 passing for 130 yards and a TD with two interceptions. Hollingsworth caught six passes for 85 yards.
Boonsboro unofficially finished with 176 yards, led by Hartman with 119 passing and 33 rushing and a TD. Mohler had five catches for 59 yards, while Davis rushed for 26 and a TD.
