Smith fuels Chargers’ win

After suffering a tough two-point loss in game one, the Chargers (2-7) were hoping to bounce back in their Jewish Community Center of Bayonne’s Indoor Flag Football Senior Division bout with the Eagles (6-1). The Chargers exploded out to an 18-0 lead as Malachi Smith reeled in two long TD passes, while James Johnson rumbled in from 10 yards out for a rushing TD. The Chargers’ defense also pitched in with an interception by Janaaron Aquino to help keep the Eagles’ league-leading offense at bay. Needing a spark, the Eagles mothballed their air attack and dusted off a wishbone offense, which quickly paid dividends as Ryan Ballance took an option pitch in from six yards out.
Still leading 18-6, the Chargers’ Malachi Smith lit up the scoreboard with another long-distance TD grab to make it 24-6, Chargers. After spotting the Chargers’ 18 points, the Eagles began to battle back as Anthony “TD” Morrone made a leaping TD grab to cut the Chargers’ lead to 24-12. Knowing that the Eagles’ defense had no answer for Malachi Smith’s speed and sure hands, the Chargers struck paydirt again as Smith hauled in his third TD catch. Down 30-12, the Eagles zeroed in by playing long ball and getting the ball to Anthony Morrone, who answered with a TD and two-point catch, making it 30-20, Chargers.
After a quiet first half, the Chargers’ Jaime Betancur finally shook off double coverage to pull in his ninth TD of the season, stretching the Chargers’ lead to 36-20. The Eagles kept zipping the ball up-court as James Bajor, Adrianna Morrone and Justine DeCicco made key plays. Unfortunately, the best catch of the drive was made by the Chargers’ Malachi Smith, who pilfered an Eagles pass at the two-yard line. With the ball back in their hands, the Chargers’ offense caught the Eagles napping as Jan Patrick Egan turned a dive play into six points and a 42-20 Chargers’ lead.
Holding a 22-point lead, the Chargers showed no signs of panic when the Eagles’ Anthony Morrone notched his third TD of the game. Instead, they refocused on defense as Malachi Smith picked off another Eagles’ pass two minutes later. Leading 42-26 with less than a minute remaining, the Chargers went wire-to-wire as Malachi Smith recorded his fifth TD of the bout, this time via the ground, to make it 48-26. The Chargers did close out the scoring with a TD pass to Anthony Morrone, but it was too little, too late as the Chargers prevailed 48-32.
The Senior Division Players of the Week for week seven were: Offensive Player of the Week – Malachi Smith, Chargers; Defensive Player of the Week – Malachi Smith, Chargers; Teamwork/Leadership Player of the Week – Janaaron Aquino, Chargers.

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