SOUTHERN TIER SPORTS REPORT: CORNING'S FELKER HEADLINES ALL-STSR FLAG FOOTBALL ALL-STAR TEAM (June 19, 2023)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
It was the first season with flag football for two area teams, while Horseheads embarked on season two in the sport and there were a number of big performances throughout the spring.

In their first year with the sport Corning had four of the major award winners, while Elmira also had one of the major award winners.

The player of the year is Corning’s Jayda Felker. Felker was a huge threat on offense all season, hauling in 18 touchdown catches on the season. She was also a huge factor on the defensive side of the ball with eight interceptions.

On offense there are co-offensive players of the year. Payton Ross of Elmira threw for 1,462 yards and 17 scores, completing 56% of her passes, and she also ran for 968 yards and 12 touchdowns. The other co-offensive player of the year is Hannah Smith of Corning, who threw for 43 touchdowns this year.

The defensive player of the year is Brooke Johnston of Corning. The Hawks standout picked off 10 passes to lead all area players in interceptions, and she also scored eight touchdowns on the year.

The coach of the year is Richard Capo of Corning, who led the Hawks to the Division I title game.

The first team includes Smith, Felker, Johnston and Ross along with Elmira’s Tierney Krawczyk, Ellie Clearwater and Alonzo Irish and Horseheads’ Sarah Hunt and Payton Butts and Corning’s Grace Robertson.

The second team includes Corning’s Natalie Gieldon; Elmira’s Jalea Abrams, Sienna Berry and McKenna Malone and Horseheads’ Karis Adams, Jessica Als, Alexis Knox and Caitlyn Slavin.

FLAG FOOTBALL ALL-STSR TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jayda Felker, Corning
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Payton Ross, Elmira & Hannah Smith, Corning
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Brooke Johnston, Corning
COACH OF THE YEAR: Richard Capo, Corning

FIRST TEAM

• Hannah Smith, Corning: Threw 43 touchdowns for the Hawks this season.
• Jayda Felker, Corning: Had 18 receiving touchdowns and intercepted eight passes on defense.
• Brooke Johnston, Corning: Intercepted 10 passes on defense and had eight touchdowns this year.
• Tierney Krawczyk, Elmira: Ran for 747 yards and 15 scores and had 13 catches for 203 yards and four scores.
• Payton Ross, Elmira: Threw for 1,462 yards and 17 scores with a 56% completion percentage. Ran for 968 yards and 12 scores.
• Alonzo Irish, Elmira: Had 23 tackles and one sack in the game.
• Payton Buts, Horseheads: Led team in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
• Ellie Clearwater, Elmira: Had 32 catches for 495 yards and five scores.
• Sarah Hunt, Horseheads: Team leader in flag pulls on the season.
• Grace Robertson, Corning: Had 14 touchdowns on the year and intercepted four passes.

SECOND TEAM

• Natalia Gieldon, Corning: Was the center on offense and the rusher on defense, had 21 sacks.
• Jalea Abrams, Elmira: Had 22 catches for 296 yards and four scores.
• Sienna Berry, Elmira: Had 21 tackles and picked off 3 passes.
• McKenna Malone, Elmira: Had 17 tackles and picked off a pass.
• Karis Adams, Horseheads: Led the Blue Raiders in rushing yards.
• Jessica Als, Horseheads: Quarterback for the Blue Raiders.
• Alexis Knox, Horseheads: Led the team in interceptions.
• Caitlyn Slavin, Horseheads: Among team leader in flag pulls and pass breakups.

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STSR FILE PHOTOS.