"It means so much, especially because we've worked so hard to get here," said Payton Parliament DESPITE SECTION SEVEN ONLY PICKING UP FLAG FOOTBALL — THREE YEARS AGO — IT HASN'T TAKEN LONG FOR THE NORTH COUNTRY — TO MAKE SUCCESFUL STRIDES. RIGHT NOW — THERE IS NO GREATER SUCCESS STORY — THAN BEEKMANTOWN GIRLS' FLAG FOOTBALL — GEARING UP TO REPRESENT THE SECTION FOR THE FIRST TIME — IN THE NEW YORK STATE FINAL FOUR. THE EAGLES — CAPPED OFF A UNDEFEATED REGULAR SEASON AT 15-0 — AGAINST ALL C-V-A-C SCHOOLS THEY FACED — THAT INCLUDES THEIR FIRST SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN PROGRAM HISTORY.
BEEKMANTOWN THEN STARTED POSTSEASON PLAY — OUTLASTING A TIGHT BATTLE AGAINST THE SECTION TWO CHAMPIONS HOLY TRINITY — BEFORE EARNING A REGIONAL TITLE — AFTER SCORING OVER 50 POINTS — AGAINST THE SECTION THREE CHAMPIONS ONEIDA. THE EAGLES SAY THEY ARE PROUD TO REPRESENT SECTION SEVEN IN A POSITIVE LIGHT — AND PAVE THE WAY — FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF FLAG FOOTBALL PLAYERS. <Emily Burke – Beekmanotwn Senior OL/DL> "I think it just shows like it's not just like, oh girls' football.
Like its actually a growing sport and its getting really popular … it its getting really popular … it motivates the to play it for us." Beekmantown Senior Wide Receiver> "We also want to win, but we want to be a stepping stone for the future generation. We want younger girls to see this and be like oh, I want to do that.
I want to be at that level at." Senior Quarterback> "Just showing how serious a sport it is, because people do overlook girls flag football as a sport. IT's new, but we ant to makr our mark and really show the younger generation that this is av ery serious sport and that we are very good and we're here BEEKMANTOWN WILL HAVE THEIR SEND OFF CEREMONY AT THE SCHOOL TOMMOROW MORNING — BEFORE TRAVELLING TO HOMER HIGH SCHOOL TO FACE SECTION FOUR'S CHAMPIONS — OWEGO FREE ACADEMY — BRIGHT AND EARLY ON SATURDAY AT 9-30 A-M Advertisement Beekmantown High School girls flag football reflects on upcoming trip to New York state final four "It means so much, especially because we've worked so hard to get here," said Payton Parliament Share Copy Link Copy New York's Section VII is in just its third season in high school girls' flag football, but the section has made rapid strides in success.
One of the greatest stories right now is Beekmantown High School girls' flag football. The Eagles are the first team in Section VII history to reach the New York Class C state final four. "It means so much," said Beekmantown senior quarterback Payton Parliament.
"We've worked so hard to get here every day in practice. We push ourselves, so it feels amazing to get all this recognition as well. "The Eagles were the team to beat all season in the Champlain Valley Athletic Conference (CVAC).
They didn't lose a single game in Section VII, going a perfect 15-0 in all league games. Their only loss this season was against Columbia High School, a Section II school that competes in Columbia, in which they lost 29-18. Beekmantown built on their strong regular season, taking down Northern Adirondack High School in a 50-0 blowout in the Section VII quarterfinals.
The Eagles completed a 20-0 comeback effort against the defending sectional champion Northeastern Clinton Central High School Cougars to win 22-20 in the sectional semifinals. Beekmantown carried that win's momentum into the sectional championship, where they took down a New York State Sports Writers Association-ranked Saranac 19-13. The competitive Section VII postseason taught the Eagles how to deal with pressure in tight playoff games as a team and sticking together no matter how grim the situation may have appeared.
They adapted a new catchphrase, "Tested By Fire," which symbolizes in three words how to respond when things get tough on the field. The Eagles wear that phrase on the back of a black t-shirt, which reads "Beekamntown Girls' Flag Football" on the front with a picture of the grim reaper colored in white holding a football. "For us, it means rise to the occasion," said Beekmantown senior receiver Grace McCasland.
"If it gets hard, you try harder. I feel like that's been so huge for us and is motivating us to hold each other accountable. "Beekmantown continued to rise to the occasion in the Class C New York state playoffs.
After a scoreless first half against the Section II champions Holy Trinity, Beekmantown responded with two touchdowns and a one-point conversion to give them a 13-12 win in the Class C regional semifinals. It was McCasland who broke up the potential game-tying one-point conversion and a late game interception by Peyton Hooker which sent the Eagles to the regional finals. Dominance ensued in Beekmantown's next game.
The Eagles scored 31 points by the first half, leading to a 56-21 rout of the Section III champions, Oneida High School, in the regional final.The Eagles hope their accomplishment can inspire more girls interested in flag football and continue the growth of the sport in the North Country. "It's getting really popular," said Beekmantown senior lineman Emily Burke. "We're doing well in it, and it's motivating the younger generations to play it.
""It's just showing how serious a sport it can be," Parliament said. "People do overlook girls' flag football as a sport. It's new, but we want to make our mark and really show the younger generation that this is a very serious sport.
"The Eagles made the trip to the state final four on Friday, June 6, after a sendoff ceremony, escorted by the local fire and police departments surrounding the Beekmantown school district. The players are pumped to see their friends, family, and the local community come out to celebrate them one last time before trying to earn a state championship. "It just shows the North Country has our back," McCasland said.
"This is going to really help us fuel our motivation, knowing that so many people are willing to support us. "Beekmantown will play the Section VII champions, Owego Free Academy High School, on Saturday, June 7, at 9:30 a.m. If they win that, they will play the winner of either Plainedge or Pioneer High School for the championship on Sunday, June 8, at 1:15 p.m.
