The fifth annual Browns Girls High School Flag Football Championship culminated with Madison High School hoisting the trophy, a triumph that also guarantees the team a berth in the inaugural Ohio High School Athletic Association Girls Flag Football State Championship.
Coached by Jay Ross and anchored by senior quarterback Kennedy Ross, the Madison squad has transformed from a modest after‑school effort into a tightly knit unit that has captured the imagination of the local community.
The Browns’ investment in girls flag football, launched in 2021, has sparked a statewide surge, expanding participation from just six schools to 120 by 2026 and drawing over 61 new programs into the spring 2026 season.
Under the new OHSAA sanctioning approved in July 2025, Ohio became the 17th state to recognize girls flag football as a championship sport, positioning the top four teams from the Cincinnati Bengals’ geographic divisions alongside Madison for the upcoming state title game.
Kennedy Ross, who first sparked the program as a sophomore after watching USA youth flag football on television, expressed both excitement and confidence in the team’s victory, noting the platform it creates for future generations of Ohio girls.
A New Era for Girls Flag Football in Ohio
With the sport now officially sanctioned, coaches, players and community leaders alike anticipate continued growth, more scholarship opportunities and a deeper talent pipeline that will keep Ohio at the forefront of high school flag football innovation.