As teams prepared for the Pennsylvania game, the Palumbo High School girls' flag football squad focused on what their coach described as a daunting challenge.
ByNew Jersey's top girls flag football teams took the field Monday at the Eagles' Jefferson Health Training Complex, competing for a state title ahead of Pennsylvania's championship matchup later in the day.
As teams prepared for the Pennsylvania game, the Palumbo High School girls' flag football squad focused on what their coach described as a daunting challenge. Head coach Chris Donneley said the matchup against defending champion Gwynedd Mercy Academy carried a "David and Goliath" feeling. Palumbo is the first public school to win the Philadelphia girls flag championship. Donneley said the sport's momentum is unmistakable.
"The opportunity that these girls have is amazing... and I'm not surprised at the growth of the sport, it really is an awesome sport to be a part of," she said. The Eagles launched a girls' flag football league in 2022, a move that helped fuel the sport's expansion across the region.
"We started with one league, had 16 teams in it. And now we have over 100 teams in Pennsylvania. Just as many playing in New Jersey," said Julie Hirshey, the Eagles' vice president of community relations. New Jersey teams were the first to compete for a championship on Monday, followed by the Pennsylvania finalists.
"We're really excited. We've worked all year for this, so this is something we've looked forward to and hold each other to the finish line," she said. For some athletes, the stakes extend beyond a trophy. Donneley said one of his players recently became the school's first to earn a college scholarship for flag football.
The sport became state-sanctioned varsity competition in Pennsylvania in 2024 and in New Jersey earlier this month. As a result, this year marks the final season the Eagles will host the championship games before state athletic systems take over. The transition is bittersweet as it reflects continued progress for girls in the sport.
"I'm very proud that the woman's sport of flag football is growing, and it's starting with us," she said. Delaware also fields teams in the Eagles' girls flag football program. Eagles players have appeared at championship events, offering encouragement to competitors who, according to team staff, often leave a strong impression on the Eagles with their level of play.
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