Liverpool flag football seemed to have zero momentum heading into the playoffs. The squad ended the regular season on a brutal four-game losing streak and seemed to need a spark. That spark came in the form of wide receiver Gianna Tortorici. In just her third game as a starter, the sophomore hauled in both of No. 3 Liverpool’s touchdowns to topple No. 6 Syracuse West in the Class A quarterfinals on Wednesday. “Our team put up with a lot of adversity,” Liverpool coach William Cutler said. “We’ve been on a losing streak lately, and they came out ready. They put those losses behind them and won the game.” After falling to Syracuse West, 24-7, late in the regular season, Cutler realized that Liverpool needed a new plan of attack. The revamped offensive approach centered around quick throws and efficient rushes. Quarterback Graceanne Sleeth thrived in the scheme. The junior linked up with Tortorici for a pair of touchdown passes. Liverpool’s defense was clicking on all cylinders. Powered by strong senior leadership, the unit shut out Syracuse West from start to finish. “They knew that this is the playoffs now,” Cutler said. “This could be the end of our six seniors’ seasons and careers.” Liverpool (9-5-1) advances to take on No. 2 Cicero-North Syracuse in the semifinals. The teams split their regular-season series. “It’s just about staying confident,” Cutler said. “When things don’t go our way, lately our team has been down on themselves. But tonight, when things didn’t go our way, we were confident, lifted each other up and just stayed poised.” Syracuse West finishes its year with a 7-8 mark. Contact Ryan Storie anytime: Email | X