A Championship Defined by Weather
The inaugural Ohio High School Athletic Association girls flag football state tournament unfolded on May 16 at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, drawing eight teams under a sky that threatened rain from the outset.
Nordonia entered as the fourth seed and quickly proved why they were a dark‑horse contender, dispatching Hamilton Badin and Burton Berkshire before advancing to the championship match.
The final pitted Nordonia against top‑seeded Mount Notre Dame, and the game was immediately interrupted by a sudden downpour that forced a brief lightning delay, adding a dramatic pause to the contest.
When play resumed, the teams traded points in a tightly contested battle, and with under a minute remaining Nordonia’s Ava McLendon made a decisive catch that set up the winning score, sealing a 20‑19 victory.
The win not only crowned Nordonia as state champions but also highlighted the growing popularity of girls flag football in Ohio, a sport overseen by the OHSAA and played on fields that now echo the historic Hall of Fame Stadium.