FLAG FOOTBALL: Seminole Ridge’s Harding; Robinson’s Saunders earn Florida Dairy Farmers honors

GAINESVILLE – Senior Madeline Harding of Class 2A state champion Seminole Ridge has been selected as the Florida Dairy Farmers 2016 Miss Flag Football and Tampa Robinson head coach Joshua Saunders has been named the 2016 Flag Football Coach of the Year.

Harding led the Hawks to their fifth state title in the past seven years by completing 279-of-386 passes, for 3,001 yards with 58 TD passes and only six interceptions. She also rushed for 498 yards and seven touchdowns and had a 36-yard punting average. She completed 32-of-45 passes for 330 yards and three TDs in her team’s 25-7 state title win over Martin County.

Saunders led Robinson to a 17-1 season that was capped with a dominating 20-0 win over Harmony in the Class 1A state championship final. The title was the second (2014) for Saunders in his 10-year coaching career at Robinson where he has compiled a 111-25 record.

The Florida Dairy Farmers Sports Awards program exemplifies Florida Dairy Farmers’ commitment to the state’s youth. This is the 24th year of these unique awards as we honor the state’s top athletes and coaches in all 30 FHSAA sanctioned and recognized sports. The program also emphasizes to young people the importance of keeping dairy products a primary part of their diet in their overall nutrition plan.