ONE OF MANY: The National Football League Flag Bahamas football team narrowly won their first exhibition game, 21-20, against the NFL Flag Miami Dolphins at the Roscow A L Davies soccer field on Saturday. Photos: Warren Grant
As of Tuesday, October 24, 2023
#By TENAJH SWEETING
#Tribune Sports Reporter
#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net
#THE Bahamas won its first exhibition game 21-20 against the National Football League (NFL) Flag Miami Dolphins adult tournament team at the Roscow A L Davies soccer field on Saturday.
#The scrimmage took place at the NFL Flag Bahamas Family Fun Day and talent showcase.
#The one-day event also saw the coaches and women compete at the family-friendly affair.
#Tito Bethel, head coach of the home team, said the win felt pretty good against the Dolphins.
#“It was a pretty good win. Most important for us was holding our composure and trying to show the world that we can compete at a high level,” Bethel said.
#He added that the win was major in proving to NFL Flag that they can go on the world stage and compete with the best on another level.
#Mckell Bethel, who plays wide receiver, scored the first touchdown for the home team to help The Bahamas get on the scoreboard.
#The team was unable to follow it up with an extra two points.
#The Dolphins quickly tied the score six apiece following a touchdown. The visiting team was then successful on the one-point conversion and led the game by one (7-6). They maintained the one-point advantage going into the halftime break.
#The Miami team looked poised to take over the game after they executed a touchdown and secured the extra point to add seven points to their total to start the second half. The score favoured the visiting squad 14-6.
#Following the play, the Dolphins were beginning to run away with the game.
#However, the Bahamas’ NFL Flag team showed their resilience and prowess, scoring a timely touchdown to pair with two points to even the score (14-14).
#Both the Dolphins and The Bahamas scored on consecutive plays as time winded down in the nail-biter flag football exhibition game.
#However, the difference maker was the home team was successful on their one-point conversion making the score 21-20.
#With 10 seconds remaining on the game clock, the Dolphins tried to make a last minute attempt at scoring but were unable to.
#Brandon Peña, wide receiver for the Dolphins, was happy about the competition between the teams despite the one-point loss.
#“It was a good experience.
#“We came out here and saw some of the talent, we did not come out with the outcome that we wanted, which was to win but overall it was a great experience and we got to meet some great people in The Bahamas,” Peña said.
#The wide receiver spoke highly of his competitors and said the future is bright for the sport in The Bahamas.
#“They are pretty competitive. They have a lot of size and athleticism…the team has a lot of potential. You guys are in good hands. The future is bright over here in The Bahamas,” he said.
#For The Bahamas, the home team was composed of players from New Providence, Abaco and Freeport. Bethel, the team’s wide receiver and Freeport native, said it was a good experience playing against their opponents and they just went into the game with the mindset of believing in themselves.
#NFL Flag Bahamas continues to bring and raise more awareness for flag football in The Bahamas.