Eight teams to compete for first Girls’ Flag Football title
By Fred Maxey
The time has come.
On Saturday, October 18, the inaugural Girls’ Flag Football season will wrap up with the first Indiana Girls Flag Football State Championship tournament. The tournament will take place at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield (19000 Grand Park Blvd.)
There are eight teams representing the state with the first two quarterfinal contests taking place at 10 a.m. EDT, followed by two more quarterfinal games at 11:30 a.m. EDT.
The two semifinals will be played at 4 p.m. EDT, with the championship taking place at 6 p.m. EDT.
Game 1 – 10 a.m. – Harrison (West Lafayette) (8-4) vs. Fort Wayne Snider (9-1)
Game 2 – 10 a.m. – Penn (10-0) vs. Terre Haute South (9-3)
Game 3 – 11:30 a.m. – Munster (9-1-1) vs. Lawrence North (9-3)
Game 4 – 11:30 a.m. – New Prairie (10-1) vs. Warren Central (4-6)
Game 5 – 4 p.m. – Semifinal (Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner)
Game 6 – 4 p.m. – Semifinal (Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner)
Game 7 – 6 p.m. – Championship
TEAM CAPSULES
Harrison (West Lafayette) (Coach Lauren Dalder): The Raiders are on a five-game winning streak includes wins over Terre Haute North and state finalist Terre Haute South. They earned their spots in the finals by beating Evansville Mater Dei. They enter tried and tested with all 12 of their games decided by seven points or less.
Fort Wayne Snider (Coach Reggie Tharp): The Panthers, whose only loss came to East Noble, have three strong offense players in running back Mylee Hurse (24 touchdowns), quarterback Myaa Jackson (10 touchdowns), and wide receiver Ameers Kummer (eight touchdowns). “I feel like we are athletic on both sides of the ball and we compete every game. Being able to compete for a state championship is a huge honor for this group and we are looking forward to it,” explained Coach Tharp.
Terre Haute South (Coach Lucas Utterback): The Braves, who enter on a five-game winning streak, are paced on offense by sophomore ZaNariae White, who leads the team in touchdowns and receptions. Defensively, fellow sophomore Dez Campbell is the leading flag puller. Senior captain Trista Powers is the club’s true leader, who plays both sides of the field and was a state qualifier in wrestling. ” I feel truly blessed that our team is able to compete this weekend and we look forward to the competition,” said Coach Utterback.
Munster (Coach Zach Slosser): The Mustangs come in as one of the hottest teams, having scored 20 or more points in five games, while only allowing seven points or less in six games. Leading the charge are junior quarterback Amelia Ramirez (2,003 yards passing and 25 touchdowns), sophomore wide receiver Miranda Younger (342 yards with four touchdowns), and sophomore running back Bella Jarrett (364 yards rushing and 147 yards receiving with six total touchdowns). The defense is as stout as they come with senior linebacker Ignoamaka “Igbo” Odekuga (team-leading 46 flag pulls) and junior linebacker Elena Dovellos (34 flag pulls, an interception, and a touchdown). “To me, it is exciting to make it down to State,” said Coach Slosser. “The growth that we have seen from the girls on the team is extraordinary. Teaching them what football is not just routes and throwing the ball but the little nuances of the sports has been truly amazing. Our student body, staff members, and administration have had our back every step of the way and want to have to big shout out to them.”
Penn (Coach Jerimiah Maggart): The heavily-favored Kingsmen are led on offense by junior quarterback Quinn Driscoll (116-of-140 for 1,437 yards with 33 touchdowns and just one interception as well as 38 rushes for 385 yards with six touchdowns). Senior defensive back Macy Little (16 flag pulls, 11 interceptions, and five touchdowns) has been a force defensively. “We are very excited to compete in the first Girls’ Flag Football state championship,” said Coach Maggart, who was the week seven recipient of the Colts’ Coach of the Week. “This is an amazing opportunity to compete against the best teams in the state and see where our program stacks up.”
Lawrence North (Coach Donny Mimms): The Wildcats are on fire, having won six straight games, including a “payback” decision over North Central (Indianapolis) in the sectional. Leading the charge is freshman quarterback Heavynne Beard (32 passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns). Fleet- footed senior defensive back Cydnei Harper (50 flag pulls, including 15 for loss) is the defensive stalwart. “For me, I’m just happy to be able to lead this group of young women as far as I have,” said Coach Mimms. “Making it to the state tournament this far is monumental for our program. We needed a goal to improve from last year and this was just the right thing. It allows us to showcase our hard work we have put in for this season. We want to represent our school and community with the best of our ability. For our seniors, this is the dream they have had since last year and for our freshmen, it is a bar they were willing to set for their high school career. We hope to be holding up the trophy at the end of the night!”
New Prairie (Coach Shaunna Tewell): The Cougars, whose only loss came to Penn, are led by junior wide receiver-defensive back Addi Luther (over 800 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns), who is the daughter of Dan Luther, a member of South Bend Saint Joseph’s Class 3A state championship team. Defensively, junior defensive back Emma Deutscher (76 flag pulls and six interceptions) is the team leader. “This moment isn’t luck,” said Coach Tewell, who was the week four Colts’ Coach of the Week winner. “It’s the result of every practice, every bruise, every cheer, and every ounce of heart we’ve put in. We made it to state because we earned it. We are loaded with every emotion imaginable and can’t wait to make our community proud.”
Warren Central (Coach Kenzie Brown): The Warriors are paced by junior running back-wide receiver Ryanna Benson, who is averaging 150 yards rushing per game rushing, and sophomore wide receiver LeeAnna Petty, who averaged 70 receiving yards per game and one interception per game on defense. “Ryanna is very determined and explosive,” said Coach Brown, who was the week eight winner of the Colts’ Coach of the Week She leads the whole team with her heart. Words can’t describe how proud I am all of these girls. They’ve poured everything into this season their time, effort, and hearts. To see them make it to state is beyond special. It’s a reflection of their resilience, their bond, and their belief in one another. I’m just so grateful to be part of their journey.”
That is the long and short of it. Eight teams vying for the ultimate goal, a State Championship!!
Everyone should get use to this because Girls’ Flag Football is here to stay. It will be an Olympic sport in 2028 and is fast paced and exciting.
From the staff at Indiana Football Digest, good luck to every team this weekend. You are making every girl across the state proud.
