Flag Football: National teams star at Patriots' stadium

Men clinch 30-21 victory against all-star team from the 12-team Degel USA league; women thrash Peabody Patriots 25-0.

By JPOST STAFF
flag football 298.88 (photo credit: Courtesy )
flag football 298.88
(photo credit: Courtesy )
Israel's national flag football teams have returned from a special trip to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where they took part in "New England Celebrates Israel," the Greater Boston area's Israel Independence Day event last weekend. Some 10,000 people attended the event, at which the men's and women's national flag football teams both defeated their US opponents at the Dana Farber Field House of Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The men took the field first to play an all-star team from the 12-team Degel USA league based in Long Island, New York. Israel never trailed, but the game was tied 21-21 with only four minutes remaining. Israel regained the lead with just under a minute to play when quarterback Chaim Schiff hooked up with Akiva Rindenow. Israel clinched the 30-21 victory when Yonah Mishaan recorded a sack in the end zone for a safety. The Israeli women dominated the Peabody Patriots from the opening drive. QB Shana Sprung excelled with pinpoint passing and touchdown tosses to Yael Freedman, Emily Neilson and Jessica Sagoskin. Defender Sarit Bailey returned an interception for a touchdown for the final score in the 25-0 victory. Before the games, the Israeli teams received a VIP tour of Gillette Stadium from Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his wife Myra, the current chair of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, which sponsored the festivities.