The first Ohio High School Athletic Association Girls Flag Football State Tournament concluded on Saturday, gathering eight teams from across the state in a historic showcase of the rapidly growing sport.
In a tightly contested championship, Nordonia from Summit County edged Mount Notre Dame of Cincinnati 20‑19, securing the inaugural title with a dramatic finish.
A Game‑Winning Moment
Freshman Ava McLendon, who had previously excelled in dance and cheer, caught the decisive pass from senior quarterback Hadyn Paul and sprinted into the end zone for the winning touchdown.
Paul, committed to play both flag football and basketball at John Carroll University, described the feeling as surreal, saying he could not have imagined sharing the moment with anyone else.
The victory marks a milestone as the first OHSAA‑sanctioned girls flag football state champion, underscoring the sport’s rising popularity and the new pathways it creates for young athletes.
Among the spectators, longtime Badgers fan Uncle Rae praised the senior players and highlighted the significance of having seniors compete in their final year of high school.