In what would be a preview of their Jewish Community Center of Bayonne’s Indoor Flag Football Senior Division playoff bout, the Bengals (4-5) faced the Chargers (3-7) in a week eight tune-up. The Chargers struck paydirt first as Malachi Smith stretched out to make a diving zone-to-zone TD grab, but the Bengals soon countered with a 30-yard TD sprint by Mike Zopazo. Anthony Minotto made a two-point catch to grab an early 8-6 lead. Dopazo then picked off a Chargers’ pass to set up the Bengals’ next score as Dopazo once again ran for a rushing TD, giving the Bengals a 14-6 advantage.
From that point on, the Chargers ruled the day as Malachi Smith reeled in another TD bomb to cut the Bengals’ lead to 14-12. One play later, Smith stepped in front of an errant Bengals’ pass attempt for a Chargers’ interception. In the wink of an eye, the Chargers took a 20-14 lead as Janaaron Aquino dashed 20 yards to the endzone and Jan Patrick Egan gripped a two-point toss. The Bengals did have some luck with their running game as Jared Radil, Natalleyah Teixeira and Drew Radil sparked some offense. But once again, turnovers doomed their day, this time via the sure hands of the Chargers’ Janaaron Aquino, who tallied his team’s second pick.
The Chargers continued to roll as Malachi Smith registered his third TD catch to make it 26-14. Not needing any help, the Chargers got some from the Bengals, who added to their turnover-fest by getting trapped in their own endzone for a safety. Down 28-14, the Bengals made it four turnovers in the first half as the Chargers’ James Johnson hauled in a tipped ball. Johnson then switched gears and zipped 25 yards for a TD, followed by a leaping two-point catch, making it 36-14. The turnovers continued to mount as the Chargers’ Jaime Betancur made an amazing one-handed grab to stall yet another Bengals’ drive.
While hitting on all cylinders, the Chargers finely-tuned effort chugged along as James Johnson’s TD catch and Jaime Betancur’s two-point haul rocketed the Chargers’ advantage to 44-14. Never one to fold the tents, the Bengals’ Mike Dopazo snapped up his second interception, but the Chargers answered as Jaime Betancur sealed the Chargers’ convincing 44-14 victory with his second pick.
The Senior Division Players of the Week for week eight were: Offensive Player of the Week – Mike Dopazo, Bengals; Defensive Player of the Week – Anthony Morrone, Eagles; Teamwork/Leadership Player of the Week – Malachi Smith, Chargers.