Girls flag football: Fremd’s defense, young playmakers set tone in 33-14 season-opening win over Hersey

There was no scoreboard at Hersey’s North Field on Monday evening.

Fremd’s defense provided the first announcement.

Senior defensive back Jill Simonian returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown, and the Vikings never trailed in a 33-14 flag football victory over Hersey in the season opener for both teams in Arlington Heights.

“Our defense worked so hard and kept us in it,” Fremd coach Becca O’Dette said. “All defenders showed up.

“That shifted the momentum to us.”

The Vikings (1-0), who won the inaugural IHSA state championship in 2024 and reached a sectional semifinal game last fall, received contributions from veterans and youngsters alike after entering the opener with only five practices.

Ten of the 21 players on Fremd’s varsity are sophomores.

Young?

Yes.

Overwhelmed?

Hardly.

Sophomore quarterback Suzana Grosman threw three touchdown passes and ran for another, while classmate Skylar Spedale caught two TD passes.

“Our team worked together well for a first game of the season,” Spedale said. “We had good team chemistry and great energy.”

Fremd led only 7-0 at halftime, thanks partly to another sophomore.

Hersey senior quarterback Ciara Brown directed the Huskies’ best first-half drive, completing passes to Gianna Walters, Bryce McGuinn, Maddie Breden, and Camille Devine. The Huskies reached the Fremd 1-yard line, but sophomore Christina Angerame pulled a flag on the fourth-down play to preserve the touchdown lead.

Senior JoJo Duncan was a disruptive presence throughout for Fremd, making several tackles for loss, batting down a pass, recording a second-half sack, and repeatedly pressuring Brown.

Duncan practically took up residence in Hersey’s backfield.

“The key to the win was great communication out there,” she said.

Hersey (0-1) got interceptions from sophomore Finley Spokas and junior Sophia Quiroz, whose 45-yard pick-6 in the third quarter cut Fremd’s lead to 7-6.

Grosman answered.

She connected with Spedale for a 37-yard touchdown and Clara King for a 19-yard score, giving Fremd a 20-6 advantage.

Brown, a third-year starter whom Hersey coach Starr Dorsey praised for her composure, hit Breden for a 14-yard touchdown and Devine for the two-point conversion to make it 20-14 in the fourth quarter.

“She showed great composure,” Dorsey said of her savvy, dangerous signal caller. “We had a slow start today, but we settled in, battled and moved the ball well.”

Fremd settled matters with Grosman’s 71-yard touchdown pass to Spedale and the quarterback’s 30-yard scoring run.

There still wasn’t a scoreboard at North Field.

By then, Fremd had made one unnecessary.