Athletics
Jaguar Athletics
de Toledo Repeats as Coastal League Flag Football Champions
The Jaguars finish the season as the undefeated league champions
FLAG FOOTBALL (12-0)
FLAG FOOTBALL (12-0)
de Toledo 20 - Vistamar 0 (Coastal League Semifinals)
The Jaguars shut out the Vikings in the semifinals to advance to the Coastal League Championship Game for the second consecutive year. de Toledo got to the finals with a second half surge, putting up 14 of the team’s 20 points in the latter stage. The offense was initially boosted by freshman Evan Rose, who made a double move against the cornerback on the outside to separate from him for a 45-yard receiving touchdown. Sam Koeppel threw his second touchdown of the day in the third quarter on a backfield wheel route to Chayson Greenfield on the sideline, who had open space from the onset of the catch, as the secondary followed the receivers into the middle of the field. The Jaguars put it away with a fourth quarter scamper from Koeppel, who read a wide opening in the middle of the field and carved up the middle for a 25-yard rushing touchdown.
The defense shut out their opponent for the third time this season with exemplary play from all three levels. With defensive line standout Nadiv Lev out for the game, linemate Joey Seidel showed that he can be a one-man wrecking machine with eight pulls, five tackles for loss, and four sacks. The pressure on the quarterback was too much for him to handle, as he had to consistently leave the pocket and rely on his legs for positive gains. Greenfield moved to safety, with starting safety Yarden Leshem out of the season, and made an immediate impact, snagging a lofted ball for his fourth interception of the season. Koeppel matched Greenfield with a pick in the middle of the field -- his first of the season.
de Toledo is looking to repeat as champions after defeating AGBU in the final last season. The Jaguars beat the Panthers in their two earlier meetings by close 15-6 and 21-12 scores. The games between the two sides have been hard-fought with a couple of big plays being the keys to victory.
de Toledo 20 - YULA 6 (Coastal League Championship)
de Toledo has done it again, outclassing their opponent in the championship for the second consecutive season, this time to fulfill the team’s goal of an undefeated season. This team becomes the first de Toledo flag football team to run through the season unscathed on their way to a back-to-back championship. Unlike last season when the Jaguars were the four-seed in the playoffs, de Toledo had a target on their back as defending champions and stood at the top of the standings as the favored squad throughout the season. The team was able to separate themselves from the competition by not having to rely too heavily on one side of the ball to make plays. Things were the same in the Coastal League Championship Game, as both sides put together a four-quarter masterpiece, against a YULA squad that was coming off of five straight victories, to take home the trophy.
Once again, the defense deterred their opponent’s ploys from working, as they did not give up more than 12 points in any game this season -- a trend that continued in the championship with YULA only scoring six points. Super Bowl MVP Adam Neinstein played inspired football from the cornerback position, as the opposing quarterback continued to air raid Neinstein’s side of the field with long shots to the receiver, and each and every time, Neinstein thwarted the attempt with an acrobatic leap -- Neinstein stole one of those balls mid-air for his third pick of the season. The secondary was a big reason for why de Toledo was able to put away YULA, as Evan Rose locked down the side opposite of Neinstein and Chayson Greenfield roamed the deep parts of the field from his safety position for an interception. The Panther quarterback continued to look deep, but had to throw the ball sooner than he desired, as the pass rush from Nadiv Lev and Joey Seidel crashed the pocket. Lev added to his team-leading sack numbers with three sacks for an even 30 on the season. Seidel recorded his sack on a highlight reel Superman-like dive to fire up the defense and the Jaguar sideline.
The offense matched the defense’s flawless play, as quarterback Sam Koeppel made all the right decisions in the last game of his career. Koeppel took off when nothing was available downfield and dropped precise dimes to the receivers, in a place where the secondary could not make a play on the ball. The Jaguars made their presence known on the opening drive as Evan Rose made a season-best catch on the sideline near the YULA 20, high-pointing the ball and somehow finding a way to sneak his back foot in-bounds for a completed reception that oohed and ahhed all that saw it happen. The mythic play was followed by Rose, this time climbing up the middle of the field, catching a 20-yard touchdown in front of the safety before walking into the end zone for the game’s opening score. de Toledo was not yet satisfied and put up their second touchdown off the half on a crossing pattern to Neinstein, who broke through the middle of the field untouched, scooted to the YULA sideline, and then blazed past the defenders for a 50-yard touchdown. The Jaguars slowed the game down in the second half, keeping the ball on the ground while picking up chunk yards that extended the drives and kept the clock running. Koeppel put the finishing touch on the game with a 25-yard rush through the middle of the field, similarly to his clinching play in the previous game.
The team rose to the occasion with each and every opponent bringing their best, wanting to unseat the defending champions. The Jaguars never relented, as their drive to be the first undefeated flag football team in school history fueled them through all 48 quarters of the season. de Toledo held steadfast to that goal and made it a reality in a game that felt like it was in their hands from the first blow of the whistle. The players who were on both championship teams over the last two years have left a legacy rooted in winning the right way.
Located in the San Fernando Valley portion of the City of Los Angeles in Northern Los Angeles County. de Toledo High School is accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and Builders of Jewish Education (BJE,) and financially supported by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and the Jim Joseph Foundation.
