Seminole Ridge High School’s girls varsity flag football team clinched its second consecutive Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A state championship on May 16, defeating St. Thomas Aquinas High School by a 27‑19 margin.
The title game unfolded inside the AdventHealth Training Center, the indoor practice facility of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which has hosted the championship for three straight years.
A Venue Steeped in Tradition
The Raiders entered the contest with a 20‑2 record, having won 14 of their final 15 games, including a 26‑6 semifinal victory over East Lake High School the night before. Their dominance was reflected in a season average of 29.8 points per game while allowing just 6.8.
Key Performances
MVP Ava Dowdell led a balanced offensive attack, catching 11 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns while also contributing four flag pulls and an interception on defense. Quarterback Aubrey Fogel completed 31 of 41 passes for 291 yards and four scores, and she finished the season with a 72.7 % completion rate and 78 touchdown passes.
Kylin Chieffalo, forced into a dual‑role after teammate Avaree Brant’s injury, recorded four catches for 34 yards, two touchdowns and an extra point, and sealed the win with the game‑winning score and conversion.
Defensive standouts included safety Angelina Romanski, who tallied seven flag pulls and a late interception, and Chachi Saunders, whose end‑zone pick stopped a potential scoring drive. Abigail Nosworthy added a quarterback sack in the closing minutes.
Coach Scott O’Hara praised the team’s preparation, citing meticulous work on goal‑line situations, two‑minute drills, defensive communication and special‑teams execution, as well as the squad’s conditioning and overall execution.
The championship marks the seventh flag‑football state title in Seminole Ridge history and the third under O’Hara’s leadership. The Raiders finished the season ranked No. 1 in both Florida and the nation, a testament to a program that has turned flag football into a varsity staple in 16 states.