BY HANNAH EUBANKS
To conclude the girls varsity flag football team’s district/regular season, the girls went 11-0, undefeated up until their very last game against Pines Charter. The Cowboys went into district finals with an outstanding record of 12-1. This past week, the Lady Cowboys had to take the on the Western Wildcats. The Cowboys took on the challenge and won with a score of 6-0. Finally, on Wednesday, April 26th, it was senior night for the Cowboys and the toughest game the girls would have to play yet.
Senior night for any athlete is a special moment, given it is their last home game in their sport. Many of the seniors who play flag football are dual sports athletes. This made the night even more emotional because it was truly their last senior night and final sport of the school year.
Pines Charter brought their “A” game to the home of the Cowboys, but not once did Cooper City give up. To start the game off, the Cowboys scored a touchdown, ran by freshman Kimberly Slinkosky. They did not receive the extra point. When the Cowboys received the ball back on the second down, Pines Charter intercepted the ball and scored a touchdown. They then received a two-point conversion, making the score 6-8. Shortly after this, Pines Charter found themselves down at the end zone to score again, making the score 14-6. The Cowboys did not let this get to them, still fighting hard and pulling flags while on defense and completing passes on offense. Sticking to the basic plays was how they were going to stay in this game. Senior Katie Slinkosky even managed to pick the ball and incomplete their pass.
Finally, the Cowboys got the ball back after a good job done by the defense. It was first down and senior Caitlin Dunn completed her pass to sophomore Gayla Visnansky, making the score 14-12. Slowly but surely, the Cowboys were making their comeback. Now on defense, senior Ashley Devito got the sack. With Cooper City’s defense not letting anything by them, Pines Charter lost control and dropped the snap. This lead to them punting at the fourth. Unfortunately, the defense for Pines Charter was just as eager to pull flags as Cooper. They managed to get a sack, but that did not stop the Cowboys. Dunn faked out the rusher by appearing to hand the ball off to Slinkosky, but really completed the pass to freshman Rachel Rolfs, going into to halftime with an adrenaline rush.
After halftime the Cowboys came out strong and prepared to redeem themselves, but so did Pines Charter. Soon at the start of the half, Pines Charter scored and received the extra point, putting them even more ahead on the scoreboard at 21-12. The Cowboys managed to continue to make completions, but just couldn’t seem to score throughout the whole entire half . While on the other hand hand, Pines got one more 6 point touchdown and ended the game with a score of 27-12.
Humbled by their first loss of the season the Cowboys still have a number one seat going into districts. The game against Pines Charter was one of the toughest games they will face, and now the Cowboys know what to do later down the road.
Final Score: Cooper City 12, Pines Charter 27
Featured photo by Charlie Blodnieks
