Philly Leader

The NovaCare Complex hosted the Eagles Girls Flag Football League championship on Saturday, where two new champions were crowned. Archbishop Wood secured the Pennsylvania Championship with strong performances against Academy at Palumbo in the semifinal and Gwynedd Mercy in the final. Kingsway Regional claimed the New Jersey title after defeating Mastery Charter and narrowly overcoming Egg Harbor Township in the championship game.

"They rose to the occasion," said Susan Massara, Kingsway Head Coach. "They knew what the moment was and they took it."

The event attracted hundreds of spectators, including parents, siblings, classmates, and fans who gathered to watch top players compete for state supremacy. Eagles players A.J. Brown, Jordan Mailata, and Ben VanSumeren participated as honorary captains for the semifinals, offering support through pep talks and cheering from the sidelines.

"The level of play from last year to this year, I'm blown away," commented Mailata while observing Philadelphia Catholic League MVP Ava Renninger's performance for Archbishop Wood.

Brown attended with his daughter Jersee to demonstrate that girls can excel in football just like her father. Quarterback Jalen Hurts also watched part of the games before presenting trophies to winning teams.

"Wow, did you see that," exclaimed Hurts after Sophia Topakas' one-handed interception sealed Archbishop Wood's victory. "It was an honor to be a part of this and witness this special event," he added.

The rapid growth of girls flag football is evident in increased practice sessions, strategic planning, and expanding playbooks among teams. Since its inception in Spring 2022 with 16 teams, participation has surged to 92 teams across Philadelphia and New Jersey.

"We did a lot of gameplanning," noted Massara. "We have super focused girls."

Efforts by the Eagles organization have significantly contributed to promoting girls flag football through hosting events and partnerships like Operation Warm for equipment distribution. The sport is gaining traction towards official recognition by bodies such as the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA).

Colleges are beginning to offer programs with scholarships for flag football athletes as it prepares to debut as an Olympic sport in 2028.

"I see the sport expanding and reaching heights that no one ever thought it would," Hurts remarked about its future potential.