Girls Flag Football Roundup: Defending state champions Robinson and Western punch tickets to state semifinals

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – With the regional finals taking place on Monday night in girls flag football for both Classes 2A and 1A, as eight teams punched their tickets to the 2023 FHSAA Flag Football State Championships this coming weekend at Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, while four teams saw their seasons close. Here is a recap of what happened around the Sunshine State.

CLASS 2A

REGION 1

(1) Fleming Island 19, (2) Spruce Creek 13: The Golden Eagles rallied from a come-from-behind victory over the visiting Hawks as Mykayla Maddox connected with London Jenkins for all three touchdown passes. Fleming Island moves to 15-0 on the season, while Spruce Creek sees their season end at 19-2. You can read more about the game by clicking here.

Fleming Island knocks down one last pass attempt by Spruce Creek and the Golden Eagles are heading back to state for the second year in a row!

Fleming Island 19, Spruce Creek 13 – FINAL #flgffb @ChrisBoyleDBNJ @HSFBamerica @oneclaysports @CoachSgromolo @Adriel_Rocha pic.twitter.com/RCFyDdHc7Z

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) May 8, 2023

REGION 2

(1) Alonso 20, (2) Lennard 12: It was another contested battle between the host Ravens and the visiting Longhorns as two of the best teams in the state and all of Class 2A as a candidate for Girls Flag Football Player of the Year, quarterback Mieke Rowe threw for two touchdown passes while Makenna Sturgis was on the receiving end of one touchdown while scoring another touchdown. At one point, Alonso (21-0) led by just one point in the game, bending, but not breaking to visiting Lennard (17-4). The victory puts Alonso on their first trip to the state semifinals since 2019, when the Ravens won the Class 2A state championship that season.

REGION 3

(6) Seminole Ridge 13, (4) Spanish River 7: The Hawks are heading back to the state semifinals for the first time since 2021 after defeating the host Sharks, who had made the trip last season. Seminole Ridge (14-3) defeated Spanish River (16-5) thanks to two Jaida Salguero touchdown passes that led to the triumph victory. Read more from an amazing group at New Era Prep by clicking here.

Down to one: @SRHSHawks (14-3) will be the only 561/772 team in the @FHSAA State Final Four.

Great seasons to @RiverFlagFB & @CougarsFlag

Story/photo/videos: @najitobias @SeminoleRidgeTV @CayleyChief @lola_agosto4 @Andy_Villamarzo @FlaHSFootball https://t.co/t7OKEzv8nh

— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) May 9, 2023

REGION 4

(1) Western 34, (2) St. Thomas Aquinas 21: In the second meeting of the season between the Wildcats and the Raiders, the defending Class 2A state champions will make the trip to Jacksonville once again for the third straight year. Western (16-2) has been using a rotation with two quarterbacks between Karly Rayhill and Tamara Elliot all season long and did so again on Monday night against St. Thomas Aquinas (11-3).

Congratulations to Western High School’s Girls Flag Football team! They are Regional Champs and are state bound for the third year in a row! Time to defend their state championship title! @WHSWildcats_Ath @BCAA_Sports #WildcatPride #DavieStrong #GirlPower #TrophyHunting pic.twitter.com/b2OTD6ZMwC

— Western High School (@principalarrojo) May 9, 2023

CLASS 1A

REGION 1

(2) Choctawhatchee 31, (4) Stanton 13: The Indians dominated the visiting Blue Devils from start to finish. According to Seth Stringer of the Northwest Florida Daily News, Choctawhatchee (17-2) quickly answered on the first drive of the game through a 28-yard touchdown pass by Diaris Morales to Morgan Grace to take a 7-0 early lead and never looked back. Morales would throw for four touchdowns and rushed for one more, while Grace hauled in three touchdown catches on the night. Charlee Evoniuk for Stanton (17-3) scored a touchdown early on for the Blue Devils as the season ended for them.

https://twitter.com/SethSnwfdn/status/1655746170789195777?s=20

REGION 2

(1) Robinson 32, (2) Braden River (0): It was all Knights, all night long at One Bucs Place as the visiting Pirates were making their first trip in program history to the regional finals. Robinson (19-2) led only 12-0 at halftime but came out in the second half to make sure Braden River (14-3) had no chance to make it a game led by an impressive effort by Haidyn Spano and Katejion Robinson on offense while Robinson’s stringent defense shutdown quarterback Cydnee Brooks to keep her from doing any damage on the field. Robinson is now two games away from winning their seventh straight state championship and eighth overall in program history.

Solid victory over Braden River tonight gives us our 11th straight trip to the State Finals. We can’t wait to put in the work to get the results we want in Jacksonville.

Thank you to the @Buccaneers for accepting us into your facility for this playoff run! pic.twitter.com/XEHLsApfjX

— RobinsonFlagFootball (@RobinsonFlag) May 9, 2023

REGION 3

(3) Mainland 7, (8) Somerset Canyons 0: Only one touchdown was needed for the Buccaneers to advance to the state semifinals for the first time in program history as they defeated the visiting Cougars at home. The lone touchdown came on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Ava Colubiale to receiver Cadence Haley Mainland moves to 14-5 on the season, while Somerset Canyons sees their season end at 15-6 after winning the program’s first district championship a couple of weeks ago.

DUUUUUVVVVAAALLLLL we are coming with a 7-0 win over a tough and a young @CougarsFlag . nothing but respect for that team and what they did. They are young and will be challenging for years to come. #BPND #FA〽️ILY #〽️BLOCK@ethansimpson33 @TWall_214 @BColubiale @FlaHSFootball

— MHS Flag Football (@mainlandFF) May 8, 2023

REGION 4

(1) Miami Edison 18, (2) Miami Killian 6: The Red Raiders are heading back to the state semifinals after defeating the Cougars for the second time this season. The Red Raiders are heading to the state semifinals for the second straight year as Miami Edison (18-1) as they look for the first state championship game appearance since 2019. Miami Killian sees their season end at 16-2.

FHSAA STATE SEMIFINALS SET

With the state semifinal reseeding policy from the FHSAA now in place, the matchups are set for the state semifinals at Mandarin High School in Jacksonville on Friday with the following schedule:

CLASS 2A

(2) Western vs. (3) Fleming Island, 2 p.m.

(1) Alonso vs. (4) Seminole Ridge, 3:45 p.m.

CLASS 1A

(2) Miami Edison vs. (3) Choctawhatchee, 5:30 p.m.

(1) Robinson vs. (4) Mainland, 7:15 p.m.