FLAG FOOTBALL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers host successful 4th Annual Girls Flag Football Preseason Classic

TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially kicked off the 2022 Girls Flag Football season in Florida over the weekend with their 4th Annual Tampa Bay Buccaneers Girls Flag Football Preseason Classic Presented by AdventHealth on the campus at the University of South Florida.

While this year marked the second straight year that the Buccaneers have hosted the event off-site due to the COVID-19 protocols by the National Football League – which would be dropped on the first day of the tournament – the Buccaneers made it a grand event for the nearly 1,500 flag football athletes that took part of it as part of the outreach through the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation.

With nearly 70 teams coming into Tampa for the three-day event, this was no shortage of talent that which was being scouted by college coaches from around the state including those from Keiser University, Warner University, Webber International, and Florida Gateway College as well as Thomas University just across the state line in Georgia.

On the first day after the first games were completed, the Buccaneers held a special opening event with multiple guest speakers including Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Buccaneers Co-Owner, who drew the most attention outside of Buccaneers offensive lineman Donovan Smith and Tristan Wirfs, who were appearing at their first community event with the lifting of the COVID-19 protocols.

A GREAT couple days out at the @BucsFoundation Flag Football Preseason event looking for some future FGC Timberwolves! #HuntWithUs pic.twitter.com/uziTXM6U3P

— FGCFlagFB (@FGC_FlagFB) March 6, 2022

Kassewitz, who was thrilled about the event taking place once again, highlighted the fact that it was also March which is Women’s History Month, which drew a round of applause from the athletes.

In speaking to the athletes, “It’s just unbelievable that you guys are part of it. I know a lot of you have been along the way with us. It is the fastest-growing sport in the nation, and we are just so thrilled you guys are leaders in this space, so congratulations to all of you,” Kassewitz said to applause.

Following up with Kassewitz after she spoke, she had this to say to her other NFL counterparts as the Buccaneers have taken off to build the largest event of its kind in the country as other NFL teams start to look to incorporate women and girls in football to their outreach opportunities.

“This kind of event not only shows that the girls are playing, that they’re validated and what they’re doing is important, but it also gives people the ability to witness it and to see that this very important sport for girls,” Kassewitz said.

MORE FROM THE BUCCANEERS

TOP TEAMS FEATURED

The event not only showcased the locate teams in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ core market, which includes the two defending state champions in Lithia Newsome (Class 2A), and Tampa Robinson (Class 1A), it also featured other top-tier teams from other parts of the state.

Those top-tier teams included Riverview, Ruskin Lennard, Westlake Seminole Ridge, Miami Edison, Harmony, Lecanto, Tallahassee Lincoln, Ocala Trinity Catholic, and Pace – which drove came in from the deep depths of the Florida Panhandle to participate for the second time ever.

COLLEGE GAMES FEATURED AT THE EVENT

Also, as a part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Girls Flag Football Preseason Classic, two National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) games were showcased which allowed the flag football athletes to take in what is becoming the next part of the growing sport of girls flag football in the country.

The games, which were featured on Saturday included Warner University located in Lake Wales, Webber International located in Babson Park, and first-year program Thomas University located in Thomasville, Ga.

Thomas University came out on the winning end of their matchups against both Warner University and Webber International defeating Warner 14-0 while defeating Webber 13-7.

MORE TO COME ON FLORIDAHSFOOTBALL.COM

FloridaHSFootball.com will have videos during the remainder of the week from select coaches who had teams participating at the preseason classic as part of the kickoff to the 2022 Girls Flag Football Season in the Sunshine State!

SCOREBOARD

Thursday, March 3

Robinson 27, St. Petersburg 0

Working with @zzumbiel @SteveFid & @RavensFlagFB on the 4th Annual Girls Flag Preseason Classic to provide teams around the state an awesome experience and quality games is a goal for all. Thank you to the @Buccaneers & @BucsFoundation for making it bigger & better each year.💯? pic.twitter.com/BFiRxrMxju

— RobinsonFlagFootball (@RobinsonFlag) March 6, 2022

East Lake 12, Plant 6

Armwood 30, Brooks DeBartolo 0

Brandon 12, Sickles 0

Robinson 43, Eat Lake 6

St. Petersburg 12, Plant 6

Armwood 27, Sickles 0

Brandon 32, Brooks DeBartolo 0

Plant City 25, Tampa Catholic 6

Lakewood 27, Tampa Freedom 0

Largo 9, Classical Prep 0

Avon Park 19, Countryside 7

Plant City 32, Tampa Freedom 0

Lakewood 12, Leto 0

Largo 33, Avon Park 0

Classical Prep 6, Countryside 0

Tampa Catholic 12, Leto 6

Friday, March 4

Alonso 58, Southeast 0

Carrollwood Day 13, Tarpon Springs 0

What do you do when waiting to take the field at the @BucsFoundation Pre-Season Classic? Have a team building roshambo (Rock Paper Scissors) last lady standing tournament! Congrats to Senior QB Ceniya K on the victory! @AdventHealth @CDS_Athletics @CarrollwoodDay pic.twitter.com/LFK6TLT8N1

— Carrollwood Day Flag Football (@cdsflag) March 5, 2022

Blake 8, Hollins 0

Steinbrenner 22, Palmetto 0

Alonso 34, Palm Harbor University 0

Thank you @Buccaneers and @BucsFoundation for hosting the 4th Annual Buccaneers Preseason Classic.

It is the biggest and best high school flag event in the nation with 70 teams from across Florida.

Enjoy working with @zzumbiel @SteveFid & @RobinsonFlag to make it happen! pic.twitter.com/GPWKVZ2wFP

— Alonso Ravens Flag Football (@RavensFlagFB) March 6, 2022

Steinbrenner 12, Braden River 6

Carrollwood Day 22, Hollins 0

Seminole (Seminole) 12, Palmetto 0

Hillsborough 54, Southeast 0

East Bay 20, Gaither 0

Sumner 25, Kissimmee Liberty 0

Great day today! Thanks @bucsfoundation for hosting and @phu_flag and Liberty Chargers for some good competition. pic.twitter.com/nvZUhbk006

— SumnerStingrays FlagFootball (@Stingrays_FFB) March 5, 2022

Tarpon Springs 25, Blake 0

Hillsborough 10, Bloomingdale 0

Forest Hill 6, Pinellas Park 0

Sumner 25, Palm Harbor University 0

Braden River 23, Seminole (Seminole) 0

Bloomingdale 32, Pinellas Park 0

Forest Hill 19, East Bay 12

Kissimmee Liberty 7, Gaither 0

Saturday, March 5

Seminole Osceola 25, Belleview 7

Crystal River 7, Dunedin 6

Lecanto 14, Gibbs 14

Seminole Ridge 35, Newsome 14

Belleview 26, Dunedin 0

Seminole Osceola 28, Crystal River 0

Gibbs 25, Windermere 8

Durant 20, Harmony 19

New Smyrna Beach 7, Windermere 7

Cudas in the House!!! #CudaNation pic.twitter.com/vrNtNM7AYW

— Barracuda Football (@footballCudas) March 6, 2022

Seminole Ridge 21, Lincoln 7

Wharton 12, Lecanto 0

Newsome 13, Miami Edison 12

Thank you @buccaneers, @BucsFoundation @zzumbiel, @RavensFlagFB & @RobinsonFlag for providing this stage for these flag programs to stand atop. The game continues to grow due to your ambassadorship, love of the game, and your endless and tireless promotion…🙌🏼#OurWay pic.twitter.com/lainxaga9T

— Newsome Wolves Flag Football (@FlagNewsome) March 6, 2022

Durant 26, New Smyrna Beach 14

Martin County 27, Lincoln 6

Lennard 19, Harmony 0

Thank you @zzumbiel & the entire @Buccaneers staff for this weekend! What an amazing event. Everyone had a great time!!! Thank you @RobinsonFlag @RavensFlagFB for all the time and effort you put in to make this event awesome for everyone! EVERYONE got better this weekend. pic.twitter.com/tNM3MgivHg

— Lennard Flag Football (@LonghornsFlagFB) March 6, 2022

COLLEGE: Thomas University 13, Webber International 7

Wharton 7, Lakewood Ranch 0

Miami Edison 7, Lennard 0

@Buccaneers @BucsFoundation @BucsCheer @CaptainFear @leximosley10 @KaitlynSigmundi @EmmaBalacco @daijafanning @AbbyElwell16 @grayce_bird_21 @JenniferBevel1 @KatiePaskert pic.twitter.com/nwX382881G

— Lennard Flag Football (@LonghornsFlagFB) March 6, 2022

Riverview 7, Miami Central 6

COLLEGE: Thomas University 14, Warner University 0

Trinity Catholic 19, Fort Pierce Central 0

Riverview 12, Martin County 6

As always, the @BucsFoundation did an amazing job hosting this weekend! Every year this gets better and better! Thank you @zzumbiel and all your staff for all you do! pic.twitter.com/5tcbGEoRn2

— Sharks Flag Football (@RVSharksFlag) March 6, 2022

Miami Central 13, Godby 6

Centennial 40, Sebring 0

Forest 12, Lakewood Ranch 7

Pace 12, St. Petersburg Northeast 9

Preseason Game #1: 12-9 win over St. Pete Northeast! #Team4 #PaceFlagFB #UnderArmour #GoPatriots pic.twitter.com/ne3NPMTxor

— Pace High School Flag Football (@PaceFlagFB) March 6, 2022

Trinity Catholic 19, Orlando Freedom 0

Orlando Freedom 13, Sebring 7

Fort Pierce Central 7, Forest 0

Centennial 32, St. Petersburg Northeast 0

https://twitter.com/Cen10flag/status/1500307743911170054

Godby 7, Pace 0