Girls flag football: Scouting the third season of IHSA playoffs
The IHSA girls flag football playoffs are underway, heading into regional semifinals Monday, regional finals Wednesday and sectional semifinals Saturday before next week’s sectional championship games Oct. 12 and the state tournament Oct. 16-17 at Willowbrook High School.
The Chicagoland region has once again proven that it is one of the deepest flag talent pools in the country, with several teams showing championship potential across one of the most competitive regular seasons in the three-year history of flag as an IHSA sanctioned sport.
There are teams with title hopes spread across the Daily Herald coverage area. Here is a preview of each sectional that involves them.
Evanston sectional
After a 26-3 campaign a year ago, defending state champion Maine South got off to a bit of a rocky start to begin this season, dropping two of its first three games to St. Charles North and Prospect.
Little did we know at the time, but neither of those teams have lost a game this season, and the Hawks went on to win 12 of their next 16 as they raced to the No. 1 seed in the Evanston sectional.
They will be heavy favorites to come out of that sectional bracket. Their quarterback Emerson De La Cruz has thrown for 3,378 yards and 41 touchdowns while adding 803 and 11 scores on the ground.
They handed No. 2 seed Evanston (14-2) one of its only losses this season back on Sept. 5 in a 24-12 game. Despite dropping a 38-6 game to Glenbrook South, the Wildkits recently beat Willowbrook 33-0 and looks like Maine South’s top competition.
Elsewhere in the bracket, York could visit Maine South in a regional final matchup. Addison Trail faces Lane Tech in the semifinals on Monday.
St. Charles North sectional
Kaelie Tomalak has completed 264-of-413 passes for 3,429 yards with an eye-popping 60 touchdowns. She has been leading a high-flying St. Charles North offense that features Alexzandria Richardson, who ran for 1,364 yards and 16 touchdowns with 11 more receiving scores. Adeline Shook has added 84 catches for 1,352 yards and 29 touchdowns. The North Stars are 19-0 and figure to be the favorite to come out of their sectional.
They are matched up with Wheaton Warrenville South on Monday. St. Charles North defeated the Tigers 40-6 on Sept. 23. They also knocked off Maine South early in the season, in a potential state quarterfinal preview.
In order to get there, they will have to get past Willowbrook. At 15-1, the Warriors are a flag football powerhouse. Willowbrook finished third in the state last season, falling to Whitney Young in the state semifinals.
The North Stars will have to find an answer for the Warriors’ Janell Adams (764 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns) and McKenzie Edison. Willowbrook QB Kaitlyn Santos threw for 1.760 yards and 35 scores, while Madeline Carine chipped in 13 touchdown passes as well.
This figures to be one of the most competitive sectional brackets, as Rosary, St. Francis, Oswego, West Aurora, St. Edward, Lake Park, Oswego East, Burlington Central, Wheaton North and Geneva all boast 12 or more wins.
Antioch sectional
Up in the Antioch sectional, Crystal Lake South is 13-1 and they face Huntley in the regional semifinals. The Gators beat the Red Raiders 26-0 on Sept. 22. The Gators scored 48 points on Belvidere last week. They are led by junior quarterback Cara Schroeder.
Glenbrook South sectional
Glenbrook South enters the postseason at 14-0 including a 28-13 win over Maine South on Sept.. 9.
Cooper Godbout is the big name for the unbeaten Titans. The sophomore ran for 688 yards and 12 touchdowns, caught 37 passes for 588 yards and 7 touchdowns, and also found time to throw 65 passes for 591 yards and 10 scores.
Dundee-Crown and Carmel are both dark horse teams in this bracket. The Chargers won 13 regular season games.
Stevenson (15-1) will need to get past Barrington first if the Patriots dream of a potential sectional semifinal matchup with Glenbrook South.
Prospect (15-0) is the two seed. Freshman Madelyn Searle threw for 2,882 yards and 39 touchdowns while running for 1,000 yards and 16 scores. She helped the Knights beat defending champion Maine South back in August.
Buffalo Grove (14-4) and Lake Zurich (12-4) will have a rematch of a Sept. 22 game that the Bison won 16-15.
Elsewhere for MSL teams, Rolling Meadows and Hersey face off in the regional semifinals, and 12-4 Fremd will play St. Viator.
Lyons Township sectional
Downers Grove South is 9-6 and Benet Academy is 9-1 heading into their regional semifinal meeting. Downers Grove North finished 7-9 and faces 3-9 Hinsdale South.