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Bishop Kearney wins Section V flag football state qualifier

Bishop Kearney's high-scoring flag football offense had to overcome Greece Athena's defense, which had already kept several teams out of the end zones Thursday night.

The Kings found ways around Athena's barriers in East Rochester and made sure the Trojans never crossed the goal line to win this playoff game between the Section V champions 31-0.

Quarterback of Kearney Greta Brezenski led the undefeated Kings to a spot in one of the new state high school tournaments.

Player of the game

Brezenski, a senior at Kearney, was nothing short of spectacular in terms of her arm strength, the accuracy of her passes and her ability to force her way to throwing spots. Four of her throws were touchdowns. She also had a short touchdown run.

Gameplay

Bishop Kearney's second touchdown gave the Kings a 12-point lead with 5:21 left in the first half. The Kings managed a drive to the Athena 1-yard line, where Brezenski received a snap two yards behind the offensive center and ran down a lane into the end zone.

Class B2 Championship: Bishop Kearney remains undefeated with the Section V Flag Football title

In numbers

3 – Interceptions by defender Bishop Kearney Nela Lopusnovawho was also often Brezenski’s first choice as a receiver.

4 – Interceptions by the Kearney defense, including one intercepted by a freshman in the second half Cady Kovalev which prevented a possible attack on a touchdown by Athena.

6:0 – Bishop Kearney took the lead after an eight-yard touchdown pass from Brezenski to Lopusanova at the end of the team's first offensive drive. A one-point conversion pass attempt was deflected and intercepted by Emile Montagliano to defend Athena.

10:26 – Time remaining in the first half when the Athena defense forced a turnover while the score remained 6-0.

19 – Seconds on the clock in the first half as the Kings extended their lead to 18-0. Brezenski threw one of her many short passes to the rookie Chloe Brinsonwho would line up alongside the quarterback in the offensive backfield.

21:50 – There was still time left in the game early in the second half when Lopusanova, a sophomore, backed up, then tracked down a pass from Athena and intercepted a ball, which she recovered at about the Athena 35-yard line.

20 – Yards on a touchdown pass play from Brezenski to Kowalow with 20:28 left to play. The Kings were up 24-0 after Kowalow ran to her right across the field and outran a defender as she caught the ball.

18:28 – Time remaining until Lopusanova's second interception.

7 – yards for a touchdown pass from Brezenski to Brinson, who ran out of the Kearney backfield again during the game. Lopusanova then caught a pass for a one-point conversion, giving the Kings a 31-point lead with 8:39 play.

What's next

Kearney takes on the Section VI champion pioneera team from the Buffalo area, in a regional or state quarterfinal game at 11 a.m. Saturday at Sweet Home High.

James Johnson, a Rochester native and graduate of Edison Tech in the Rochester City School District, has been a full-time journalist for the Democrat and Chronicle since 1996, covering high school sports. Follow him at @jjDandC on X (Twitter). Reach him at [email protected]

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