Path to the National Stage
The East Georgia Blitz 12U boys flag football team captured a regional championship in Dothan, Alabama, a victory that guarantees one of only 32 slots at the NFL Flag Football National Championship.
The national tournament is set for July 23‑26 in Westfield, Indiana, where the team will join 31 other qualifiers on the field.
All games will be broadcast by ESPN and are being staged alongside the NFL Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies, adding extra visibility to the young athletes.
The competition is part of a broader NFL Flag Football Program that now counts 880,000 participants worldwide, a figure that underscores the sport’s rapid expansion.
East Georgia Blitz, a nonprofit organization that serves the Central Savannah River Area, was co‑founded by Bill Walker and former NBA guard CJ McCollum, who have helped steer the league’s growth.
Flag football’s rise is being recognized beyond youth leagues; the sport is slated to become an Olympic event in 2028, and colleges are beginning to award scholarships to skilled players.
Locally, Greenbrier High School’s girls flag football team has posted three consecutive state championships, and several of its players maintain ties to East Georgia Blitz, illustrating a vibrant regional pipeline.