By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

A dominant effort from Tallmadge kept the scoreboard from Field’s favor, but Friday was about more than just a score.

It was a night for history, with the Falcons playing in their first-ever girls flag football game.

The Blue Devils were making the same history, playing in their first game, and displayed a potent passing game that highlighted a 30-0 victory at Ellet High School.

Tallmadge (1-0) quarterback Sophia Worthington completed 17-of-21 passes and had five touchdowns. Her top targets were Rae Pooler with seven receptions and a touchdown, while CoCo Pooler had five receptions and two touchdowns. Worthington’s two other passing scores were to Ellie Aschenbrener and Elana Sykes.

Defensively, Rae Pooler and CoCo Pooler had an interception each.

For Falcons head coach Jeff Eldreth, Friday was about the excitement for something new, but also an opportunity to learn.

“We were all very excited to play this first game,” Eldreth said. “We saw a defense tonight that we had not seen yet, so we know we have to work on things. You can tell players about the physicality of the game in practice, but seeing it in a game is completely different. You have to see it and experience it to really know.

“I feel like I let the girls down by not having them more prepared, but the one thing I know is that I won’t quit, and we won’t quit,” Eldreth added.

After weeks of practices and a couple of scrimmages to prepare for the season, sophomore Audrey Richmond said Friday felt different.

“Everything finally felt real,” Richmond said. “Even though we lost, it was still good for us to be on the field and experience a real game. It lets us know some of the things we need to work on.”

Teammates Morgan Stoicoiu, a senior, and McKinley Wetzel, a sophomore, agreed.

“I feel like once the game started, the nerves went away,” Stoicoiu said. “I think we learned that we need to be a little bit more aggressive and a little bit faster, but we will keep working. We will improve.”

“Practices are always different than games, so I think we needed tonight to remind us of that,” Wetzel said. “It is a good learning moment for us.”

Tallmadge scored on five of its six possessions.

The Devils had the first possession of the game and moved down the field before scoring on a fourth-down pass from about 10 yards out from Worthington to Aschenbrener at the 16:40 mark.

Tallmadge was back in scoring position after Rae Pooler intercepted a pass deep in the Falcons’ territory. A play later, Worthington found Rae Pooler for the score and a 12-0 lead, with 13:53 on the clock, after the conversion failed.

The Blue Devils scored two more touchdowns before halftime, with Worthington finding Sykes and CoCo Pooler to lift their advantage to 24-0 by the break.

Tallmadge scored on its first possession of the second half, a touchdown pass from Worthington to CoCo Pooler, that ended the game by the mercy rule with about 16 minutes remaining.

Field is back in action on Sunday. The Falcons play Buchtel (11 a.m.) and Massillon (12 p.m.), with both games at Massillon.

FIELD OFFENSE

Rushing: Audrey Richmond, 2 carries.

Passing: Paige Eldreth 3-of-16.

Receiving: Morgan Stoicoiu, 2 receptions; Audrey Richmnond, 1.

FIELD DEFENSE

Flag Pulls: Asa Frost, 3; Audrey Richmond, 3; Chloe Bosley, 2; Serenity Kelly, 2.

TALLMADGE OFFENSE

Rushing: None.

Passing: Sophia Worthington 17-of-21.

Receiving: Rae Pooler, 7 receptions; CoCo Pooler, 5 receptions; Ellie Aschenbrener, 2 receptions; Sydney Wheeler, 2 receptions; Elani Sykes, 1 reception.

TALLMADGE DEFENSE

Flag Pulls: CoCo Pooler, 1; Sydney Wheeler, 1.

Interceptions: CoCo Pooler, 1; Rae Pooler, 1.