SECTION 4 FLAG FOOTBALL: ELMIRA STARTS FAST ON WAY TO WIN OVER ITHACA FOR FIRST SECTIONAL TITLE (24 PHOTOS) (2025-05-24)
BY BRIAN FEESSouthern Tier Sports ReportENDICOTT — For the first time the Elmira flag football team will be coming home with a Section IV title as they jumped out to a 28-0 lead on their way to a 47-7 win over Ithaca in the Class A sectional final.
Elmira split against Ithaca in the regular season and they were ready for the challenge against the Little Red on Saturday.
Senior Miley Baker had five touchdown passes and senior Madi Jones caught three touchdowns and intercepted three passes in the game.
“I wanted to win so bad,” Jones said. “It’s both of our senior years. We want to go as far as we can.”
Getting off to a fast start was a big key for the Express.
“I thought that was good for us,” Jones said. “We had a 1-1 (record) against them so having a big start in the first half was big for us.”
After the defense forced a three-and-out to start the game, Elmira went to work as Baker threw a long pass to Jones to get the Express to the one. Ella Devlin then threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Baker and Baker threw the extra point to Jones to make it 7-0.
Jones then picked off a pass on defense, her first of three on the game, and Baker threw a nine-yard touchdown to Kylie Stickler to make it 14-0 after the extra-point pass from Baker to Jones.
Baker had a pass to Mareena Osborne for 10 yards, she pitched it back ti Stickler who ran in the final seven yards to make it 21-0 after Devlin hit Baker on the extra point.
Jones had another intercepted Baker then hit Jones for a touchdown pass and threw the extra point to Stickler.
Ella Hufnagel had a 70-yard touchdown pass to Chloe Boyer for Ithaca and she threw the extra point to Carmen Esposito to cut the deficit to 28-7.
Jones had another interception and Baker hit Jones on a 12-yard touchdown and then hit Stickler on the extra point.
Baker hit Stickler on a seven yard touchdown and MacKenna Payne had an interception. Madyson Wasicki had the fifth interception for Elmira on the day and Devlin hit Stickler on a one-yard touchdown to cap the scoring.
For Baker it’s always fun having Jones to throw to.
“I feel good, we have one of the best wide receivers in the 607, it just feels good,” Baker said.
And, when Ithaca started to double Jones that left Stickler open, as she caught four touchdowns in the game.
“Kylie went crazy,” Baker said.
“Kylie is the one,” Jones said of her teammate.
In the first half Jones took big advantage of the one-on-one matchups.
“With the one-on-one it’s me or no one, so you have to give your best,” Jones said.
And, Baker was able to find Jones in those situations.
“I am super excited,” Jones said. “Miley always finds me open and it makes us win.”
And, when the defense keyed on Jones that left others open.
“We always see it, most the time it’s two or three on me so everyone else gets open,” Jones said. “They make their plays and that’s what gets us the win.”
Baker was in a new role as quarterback in the game, and that comes in a week where she hadn’t practiced.
“I haven’t practiced all week,” she said. “I was injured, I just got cleared yesterday. I feel like they (her teammates) practiced hard all week. They were focused.”
On defense the Express intercepted five passes in the game and limited Ithaca’s offense all night.
“Our defense, we worked hard,” Jones said. “This week, every day, setting our defense for their offense and it worked out in the end.”
Now, the Express are sectional champions.
“First ones in (school) history,” Baker said.
Now it’s on to regionals on Wednesday as they take on Middletown at 6:30 p.m. at Goshem High School.
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES
PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME:
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