The Julia Horomada Center is the Human Variety Pack of Mauritius. There’s almost nothing she can’t do on the flag football field, and last Monday she pulled out all the stops. Horomada accounted for four touchdowns in four ways in a 24–15 victory over Lindenhurst.
She threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Sophia Scuria, caught a 22-yard scoring pass from Savannah Caracappa, ran for a score, and returned an interception 75-yards for a TD. All this while learning to play quarterback, a relatively new position for him after spending last season and his debut as a running back and wide receiver.
For her versatility and the results that come with it, Hromada is Newsday’s Athlete of the Week
The school’s athletic director Jeremy Thode, who also assists on coach Mike Kosinski’s staff, said that with Center Moriche’s two regular quarterbacks unavailable, Hromada was a logical choice to step into the game’s most important position.
Thode said, “He’s played any role we’ve needed him to.” “He’s very competitive. He’s focused, he’s determined. Ideally, we want to get the ball in his hands as much as we can, and as often as we can, so he can use his natural instinct to make things happen.” Athletic ability can be used.
Hromada was uniquely primed for the task. With three football-playing brothers, her background in sports is extensive and, as a setter on the school’s volleyball team, her leadership abilities are well-polished. When it came to leading the offense, she was upbeat.
“I like having control of the whole game,” said Horomada, a junior. “… I found myself sliding into the quarterback position more than I thought. I was a little nervous at first, but quickly got used to it.”
Hromada’s leadership abilities don’t just show when she’s officially the signal-caller. Center Moriches is trailing by two points in its win against Lindenhurst. Knowing that a quick response was crucial, Hromada told Carakappa to get him the ball and let him take care of the rest. The rest was a 22-yard scoring reception.
“I knew I had to step up and lead the team,” Hromada said. “When (Caracappa) was quarterback, I said ‘throw it to me and I’ll get some yards.’ He threw it to me and I got a touchdown.
Defensively, Hromada’s two interceptions—one of which he covered 75 yards for a score—were examples of his calculated knowledge of offensive movement.
“I looked at (the quarterback’s) eyes and it looked like he was going right,” Horomada said. “I knew it was going to be a high throw, so I got in front of (the receiver), intercepted it, found an open space, went to the sideline and heard everyone say ‘Go on!’”
She always does.
