Smith big for Bengals

With their ticket to the JCC of Bayonne’s Indoor Flag Football Sr. Division Championship round already in hand, the (10-1) Bengals had one last regular season foe to take on, the (2-9) Eagles. Both teams got out to a sluggish start until the Bengals’ Michael Tedesco lit up the scoreboard with a TD run and catch each followed by Malachi Smith’s two point conversions. Down 16-0, the Eagles went wire to wire on a TD toss to Jaime Betancur making it 16-6, Bengals. The Bengals responded with a TD catch by Tedesco and a TD grab by Jared Radil while another two point scamper by Smith gave the Bengals a 30-6 advantage. Some ground was gained for the Eagles as TE Ryan Ballance turned a short dart into six points followed by Betancur’s 2 point grab closing gap to 30-14. Switching gears, the Bengals’ QB Drew Radil caught a TD pass and after yet another 2 point connection to Smith, the Bengals’ lead grew to 38-14. Undaunted, the Eagles plugged away as short passes to Chris Ballance and J. P. Egan set up a Betuncur TD as the Eagles crept closer at 38-20. A turning point came when the Bengals’ Jared Radil and Malachi Smith each intercepted Eagles’ pass attempts to end two promising drives. The rest of the bout seesawed back and forth with the Eagles’ J. P. Egan (1 TD), Janaaron Aquino (1TD), and Jamie Betancur (2 expts) each finding the endzone while the Bengals’ Malachi Smith (3 TDs) and Michael Tedesco (4 expts) sealed the Bengals 60-34 win.

Week 9 Sr. Division
Offensive Player of the week – Malachi Smith – Bengals
Michael Tedesco – Bengals
Defensive Player of the week – Adrianna Morrone – Chargers
Teamwork/ Leadership Player of the week – Ryan Ballance – Eagles

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