We Speak Flag Football
New England’s First: Eastern Connecticut State Builds a Home for Division III Flag Football
Eastern Connecticut State University isn’t easing into women’s flag football — it built the sport a home. The Warriors are New England’s first NCAA Division III flag football program, and this August the university completed a dedicated 80-yard, 79,550-square-foot flag football field at the Mansfield Outdoor Athletic Complex.
The investment signals how seriously Division III is taking the sport’s NCAA fast track. Eastern’s program, led by head coach Andy Crane with the backing of university president Karim Ismaili, joins a 2026-27 sponsorship wave that includes the Atlantic East, Empire 8, United East, American Southwest, Southern Collegiate and Central Atlantic conferences at the D-II and D-III levels.
For recruits in New England, the math has changed. A generation of high school players in states like Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania — where participation has exploded — now has a varsity destination close to home, with a purpose-built field waiting for them.
Eastern’s first seasons will help write the blueprint for D-III flag football as the NCAA’s championship vote approaches in January 2027.
We Speak Flag Football
Alabama Runs Deep: Undefeated Moody, Central and Montgomery Catholic All Sit in the National Top 15
If you want to find the center of the high school flag football universe, check Alabama. Three Alabama programs sit in the USA TODAY Super 25 national rankings — and the state’s No. 2 team hasn’t lost in 30 games.
Moody (17-0) is the streak story of the fall. The defending AHSAA Class 1A-5A champions picked up their 30th consecutive win this week, are ranked No. 7 in the Super 25 and No. 8 in the MaxPreps national rankings, and recently outscored three opponents 146-0 in a single week. Sophomore Sophie White put up 472 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns in one doubleheader. The Blue Devils’ title DNA is real: last December at Protective Stadium, quarterback Serenity Rutledge threw three touchdown passes — to Zoey Terry, White and Kennedy Hockman — and Cheyenne Moore returned an interception 48 yards for a score in a 27-18 final win over Montgomery Catholic.
Central of Phenix City (11-2) is Alabama’s No. 1 and the nation’s No. 5, powered by Savannah Sevier, who recently stacked 301 yards, four touchdowns, six flag pulls and four pass breakups in a single week. Montgomery Catholic (12-1), ranked No. 15 nationally, is right back in the hunt behind senior Hayden Fitts, who ran for three touchdowns and threw for another against Spain Park.
With Spain Park, Vestavia Hills, Boaz and Brewbaker Tech also ranked in the state Super 10, Alabama’s playoffs this winter might be the toughest tournament in the country.
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