by Leslie Majkrzak ‘27

Junior Captain Melanie Payne pulling a flag on defense.

The flag football team is back and better than ever, thrilled for the season ahead of them. In their inaugural season last year, the team finished with a heartbreaking loss in the semi-finals to Damascus. With a season under their belt this year, the Warriors are looking to go further in the playoffs, with the goal of reaching states at M&T Bank Stadium. The team graduated nine seniors last season, including their starting quarterback, but a combination of returning and new players are eager to fill their shoes. Beginning the season with a bang, the Warriors brought home a convincing 38-0 win against Wootton. The team next beat Wheaton, giving up only one touchdown, resulting in a score of 22-6.

Across the county, every team is stronger this year in the second season of flag football in MCPS, but players on Sherwood are confident due to the experience of returning players who are comfortable with the rules and have developed key skills. They are also excited to welcome new players who bring unmatched athleticism and are quickly catching on. Some of their tougher competition includes Damascus, a rival from last season, Paint Branch, and Frederick County’s Thomas Johnson. 

The coaching staff is building a powerful team culture, emphasizing values that will help their team not only in football but also in life. “Coach Hiller and I believe strongly in hard work and teamwork. We both want to create a positive environment for our athletes where they can grow on and off the field,” said Coach Caitlin Thompson. 

In just two games, the defense, made up of primarily returners, has tallied incredible stats with 8 interceptions, 2 sacks, a safety, and scored 3 touchdowns. The offense is learning new plays and putting the pieces together to continue to be successful and score touchdowns against competitive teams. Many of the players are multi-sport athletes, giving them a leg up by providing them with essential qualities such as speed, endurance, teamwork, and competitiveness. “They are athletic, disciplined, and they work well together. This year, we are hoping to hone that talent into football-specific success,” said Thompson.

 While flag football is still a new sport in Montgomery County, it is rapidly growing and becoming popular. After assessing last year’s season, MCPS opted to make some changes to the sport’s rules to align with those of the NFHS rulebook. Some of the major changes include increasing the length of the game from a previous 40 minutes to 48 minutes with two 24-minute halves. Also, each team is given two timeouts per half, one less timeout per half than last year, and downfield blocking is now allowed. 

“I think the new rules have their ups and downs. Specifically, the game becoming longer is much better than last year,” said junior captain Melanie Payne. “It makes sense due to the ball being overthrown and the referees having to talk to one another about what calls to make. However, I would like to see them implement a stop clock for referee communication in the future.”