Flag football was introduced in MCPS last year, after being inspired by other schools across the country that had already included it. In the Patriots’ first season, the flag football team went 6-3, with a conference record of 5-3.
Heading into this season, the team encountered a problem where multi-sport athletes were no longer allowed to play both flag football and their other fall sport. Although players had a tough time getting accommodations, senior Liana Usman was able to get permission from Athletic director Al Lightsey before the season started which gave her the ability to play both varsity golf and flag football throughout the fall.
Due to the multi-sport rule preventing players from returning, a majority of the current team consists of people who are new to the sport. This made for a challenging beginning to the season, where the team suffered a tough 39-0 loss during their Sherwood home opener. The team followed their home opener with two away games against both Rockville and Bethesda-Chevy-Chase, where they also lost, but improved defensively and allowed fewer points, losing 19-0 and 22-0.
This improvement was followed by their next four games against Richard Montgomery, Walter Johnson, Springbrook and rival Churchill. In the first three games throughout this four-game stretch, the team remained strong defensively, as they did not allow any more than 18 points in a single game. When the team played their last game in this stretch against Churchill, the number five team in the county according to MocoShow’s rankings, they stood strong, only allowing seven points throughout the game. “I think we played really well against Churchill, as we got a lot of stops on defense and probably played our best defensive game so far in the season,” Usman said.
After their matchup against Churchill, the team played an away game against Quince Orchard where they suffered a 37-0 defeat. With two games remaining this season, the team holds an 0-8 record and are eager for a win before the season ends.
Although the team’s season has not gone as they have imagined or wanted, players have still had fun playing and have built strong bonds with each other that they hope to take with them in the future. “I’ve made so many new friendships from this team, not just from my graduating class, but the underclassmen as well. Everyone is super friendly and supportive that I’ve made many new connections,” senior Chloe Kim said.
With this bond, they hope to carry the good spirits into their last two games, which include the team’s final home game today , where they are matched up against Whitman. The final game to end off their season will be played on the following Wednesday, Oct. 22, an away game against Damascus. Both of these games will be held at 6 p.m. and tonight’s game will feature a senior night ceremony before the game begins.
