Double the Fun

Girls Flag Football heroes join the boys to battle it out at Kings Park

by Steven Zaitz

For the second straight year, Kings Park High School hosted the National Football Foundation’s Long Island Quarterback Skills Competition.

The star-studded event held on Sunday July 23 had no shortage of signal callers from TBR Newsmedia’s coverage area and unlike last year when it was a boys-only event, in 2023, the girls were also part of the fun.

Jeremy Weiss, who was the reigning champion coming into this year’s competition, finished third this time around. He was just behind Smithtown West’s Brayden Stahl, who finished in second place.

Pixie Ryan

 

The 2023 overall winner was Mustafa Mozawalla of Syosset, who prospered in the classroom as well as the gridiron, completing each throwing drill with panache.

Players from Nassau and Suffolk, including the Catholic Leagues, were eligible to participate. Jake Fields from Smithtown East, Shane Kiernan of Miller Place and Kaeden West from Comsewogue were all a part of the field of 16, who were put through their paces on the field as well as the film room.

In addition to second overall, Stahl won the award for accuracy and West had the longest throw of the day, launching a majestic rainbow that rang against the crossbar in the back of the south end zone at Kingsmen Stadium. It measured 64 yards.

Former NFL quarterback Matt Simms judged the boys as they ran drills in anticipation, arm strength, touch, mobility, and football IQ. One of the highlights of the day was when Mozawalla scrambled to his left and while sprinting to the sideline, threw a perfect, 40-yard dart in perfect stride to his receiver who tapped his toes in the back corner of the end zone.

“That was a magnificent throw,” Simms said. “Probably one of the best in the two years since we’ve done this.”

Kiernan and Fields also looked very good in the mobility drills as well as QB progressions.

As the sport of Flag Football has exploded on Long Island, organizers smartly added a contest the girls and our area – seven out of the ten contestants were from Suffolk, including Grace Gilmartin and Pixie Ryan, both from Northport and Taylor Mileti of Hauppague.

However, it was Jennifer Canarutto of Plainview-Old Bethpage in Nassau that took first prize. Canarutto, who led her team to an undefeated season as well as the New York State Championship just two short months ago, beat Alexandra DaEira of Eastport-South Manor and Delaney Israel of Longwood, who finished in second and third place respectively.

Many familiar faces came down as receivers for the quarterbacks as Lady Eagles Stephanie Braun, Emma Condos, Meghan Goutink and Melissa O’Connor all caught passes for not only Mileti, but a few of the

other contestants who were in need of targets. Four Lady Tiger pass-catchers – Caitlin Muzyka, Dana Restivo, Caitlyn Ryan, and Jamie Weissman – braved the 90-degree heat to support Grace and Pixie. Hauppauge Head Coach Steve Mileti watched his daughter Taylor from the press box as he served as color commentator on the live stream with Newsday’s high school sports editor Gregg Sarra. Northport Head Coach Pat Campbell cheered on his sextet of athletes from the sidelines.

Muzyka was awarded Best Receiver on the girls’ side.

In total, eight quarterbacks and 18 receivers from TBR’s readership area competed on a long, hot, competitive and ultimately successful day. Pick up a copy of the Times of Northport, Times of Huntington, Village Beacon Record, or the Port Times Record to see your favorite quarterback in the newspaper.

See senior honors and action photos of the 2023 LI QB Challenge

Click on any photo to see gallery, it works better - all photos by Steven Zaitz