Team-by-team previews for 2024 season
This is the first year that girls flag football is considered a ‘pilot’ program under the guidance of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. It remains a club sport l meaning girls can play flag football and another spring sport l sponsored by the New York Jets and Nike.
For the first time, NorthJersey.com is providing a season preview of the teams that responded to our questionnaire. Teams are broken down into divisions of the Super Football Conference and North Jersey Interscholastic Conference.
SUPER FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
SFC American
Clifton
The Mustangs finished last year with an unusual record of 2-3-2 (there's no overtime yet in NJ flag football) and Coach Lindsey Cinque brings back almost the entire team, including QB1 Kiara Coy. Cinque believes her team is mentally tough and has the ability to go undefeated.
DePaul
The Spartans are playing flag football for the first time under the guidance of men's football coaches Rashid Darrisaw and RJ Crusco. There's always a bit of a learning curve, but there's a lot of interest and talent. Jasmine Ouatu and Ava Drakakis are slated to get the snaps at quarterback.
Eastside
The Ghosts are coming off a season where they just missed the playoffs. Coach Brandon Pilgrim brings back four starters including seniors Jhy'Deisha Stewart, Nydia Cos and Autumn Livingston. Freshman Aubrey Newell may get a shot at quarterback.
Kennedy
The Knights are determined to get back to the playoffs after going 3-3 last year. Coach Ron Jackson has an experienced unit back with five starters on offense and four on defense, including Yalanis Jarret, Myshayla Clancy and Melanie Rosario.
Passaic
After only one win in 2024, Passaic is poised to bounce back. Junior quarterback Jessaiah Reynoso threw for over 600 yards and accounted for six touchdowns, forming a nice connection with Shalimar Hogan at receiver. The defense is expected to get a lift from newcomer Hermayoni De Aza Paulino as a rusher.
Passaic Tech
The Bulldogs are a charter flag football program in North Jersey and the first state champs. They're one of the few teams so deep they can have starters on offense and defense. Rockford Univesity commitment Gina Neils leads the defense, while quarterback Jazzy Miranda threw for 860 yards and seven scores last season. Madisyn Starr and Serina Scarnaty each had four sacks.
SFC Patriot
Lakeland
The Lancers are taking a realistic approach in their first season, trying to master the basics and get the playbook down. Senior Zoe Mazurek is expected to get the first look at quarterback.
Montville
Now in its second year as a program, Montville feels it has the parts to make a big leap, led by senior captains Ava Failla and Alexis Reilly. Junior safety Alexis Jones had a pair of picks last year.
Wayne Hills
There's already a good Wayne Hills/Wayne Valley rivalry brewing on the girls side. The Patriots are led by senior captain Jailyn James who was a first-team AllLeague performer at running back and safety (and one of four players on the flag football team who won a county title in basketball). Two freshmen Gabriella Arcell and Carlee Mirko are expected to contribute right away.
Wayne Valley
The Indians already made a big statement in the preseason reaching the finals of the Valley Jamboree Sunday before losing to Irvington. This is a team with a nice mix of veterans and newcomers. Senior Sara Paul had thee sacks last year, and junior center Alexa Benacquista had four TDs.
West Milford
This is a senior heavy team of players who got valuable experience last year. Kailey Maskerines, was a first-team All-Conference WR. Senior Tiffany Vargas, was a second-team All-Conference RB/FS.
Jefferson also plays in this division.
SFC National
Hackensack
The Comets are joining the flag football party and being guided by athletic director and former boys head coach Scooter Whiting. The goal is to build a foundation for this program to last. There's a big junior class out including Nevae Marte, Hailey Williams and Jada Thomas.
Indian Hills
The Braves finished last in the SFC Patriot last year at 1-6, but the defense should be much improved with senior linebackers Carlin Fatuova, Angelina Zeledon and defensive back Elle Callaway. Freshman Julia DiMasi will get a shot at quarterback.
Paramus
The first year of Spartans flag football ended 3-3-1 and there's lots of desire to get a winning record. The Spartans feature talented running back Megan Mok and a host of players who got All-SFC accolades including senior quarterback Isabella Mannina.
Ramapo
After five wins in 2023, Ramapo has brought back five starters including senior center Chloe Maurice, junior linebackers Hatije Lita (three picks last year) and Maiya Kayal, Junior, Linebacker (five sacks).
Ridgewood
All the Maroons did last year was go 11-0, win the North Jersey title, get featured on TV shows and at the NFL Pro Bowl. What do they do now? For starters, they bring everyone back from last year, including senior quarterback Katie Bisgrove, who finished with 1,528 yards and 31 touchdowns. They enter the year as the favorite to repeat.
Teaneck
Wide receivers Sama Selim and Krystyna Padilla are back for Teaneck, who is focusing on getting better on the defensive side of the ball after only one win last year.
SFC Colonial
Livingston
The Lancers finished 5-2 last year and will rely on senior running backs Isabella and Izadora Boneares. Both were first-team All-League picks last year. Junior Ashlea Budzinski is back at quarterback. This is a versatile, athletic team that has shown a lot of passion in the pre-season.
Morristown
Senior wide receive Jess Jabbour is the focus of the Morristown offense after scoring 10 total touchdowns last year and picking off five passes. Morristown was 1-6-1 last year, but brings back almost the entire starting line-up with the goal of getting better each day.
Mount Olive
Coach Brian O'Connor is also the boys varsity coach and a winner on both sides. The Marauders finished 9-1-1 last season, winning the SFC National division crown, but lost in the SFC semis to Irvington 14-7. Senior Gabi Drucks will be a three-year starter at quarterback and is joined by a strong senior class.
Orange
It's Year One of Flag Football in Orange, and Coach Omar Mitchell has been impressed with the team speed and determination to improve. The Tornadoes are counting on senior quarterback Rahshanae Williams and sophomores Honest Hinds and Kennedy Walker.
West Orange
At West Orange, they still remember the double OT loss to Central in the playoffs. A tremendous freshman class and sophomore volleyball standout Nola Duncan should add depth to an already talented roster that includes a great linebacker tandem in Aayana Morman and Mackenzie Young.
Essex Tech also plays in this division
SFC Liberty
East Orange
In it's second year, East Orange is still looking for its first flag football win. Senior Syria Greenidge led the team last year in receiving yards and flags grabbed. Freshman Imani Robinson may take over at quarterback.
Irvington
Irvington has become the premier flag football program in the area, with a state title and 29 wins in their first three years. Coach Kevin Steele brings back AllAmerican quarterback Janasia Wilson and standout linebacker Brianna Hertilien. You win North Jersey, you probably have to go through the Blue Knights.
Montclair
The Mounties will again try to take advantage of the talents of QB Bridget Martens as a runner and passer and play better defense to improve on last year's 2-6 mark.
Nutley
After going 3-3, Nutley Coach Rob Porrino believes a winning culture is starting to take root. The Raiders bring back five players from last year's squad, including senior FS Ellie Desantis, senior QB Morgan Dolaghan and senior RB Cynthia Depersio,
Dickinson
At Dickinson the motto is get comfortable being uncomfortable. They're one of the charter schools to play North Jersey flag football and Coach Jonn Smith brings back three girls who received post-season honors from last year's team and a talented freshman class.
Beloved Charter, Union City also play in this division
SFC Independence
Newark Central
Central brings back four key starters form last year's 6-3-1 team including Zanyah Graves, Zakiyyah Dodard, Archie Williams and quarterback Dyshana Austin. The Blue Devils finished second in the SFC Independence Division last year.
Newark Lab
Newark Lab only brings back two starters from last year's team that finished 4-3-1, but they're two good ones. Junior Alyce Minter was a third-team AllLeague pick and quarterback DaNajha Hicks is coming off a solid freshman year.
Shabazz
Shabazz is defending league champs and finished No. 6 in the unofficial rankings. They only allowed a little more than a touchdown a game. Tiyanna Hillamn and Heaven Swinton will be at cornerback and Jayla Martinez and Zhar Muhammad will be the anchor at the linebacker position. There are a couple of freshmen vying for the QB job.
St. Benedict’s Prep
It's the first year of flag football at St. Benedict's and the Bees will build around a big sophomore class including quarterback Laelle Stewart and wide receivers Ebony Turner and Kayla Jones.
Weequahic and West Side also play in this division.
NORTH JERSEY INTERSCHOLASTIC CONFERENCE
North Division Garfield
Boilermakers Coach Aveon Irving believes he has a team that can make the playoffs because it has improved depth and experience. Freshman Cheyenne Falone is getting a look at quarterback. She has a good target in senior Destiny Davis to count on.
Hawthorne
After reaching the state final in 2022, the Bears went winless in 2023 and have a new coach in Ozzie Duran. There are multiple returnees back, including sophomore quarterback Kaylee Hopper and running back Julia Korpics. The goal is keep working towards getting back in the win column.
Leonia
Former North Jersey star AJ Scoppa is the new head coach of the Leonia program in its first year. There are a lot of multi-sport girls who joined up, including senior Regan Lynch and Jayla Vasquez who will get a shot at quarterback. Scoppa said there are two main goals: to have fun and compete.
New Milford
Knights quarterback Emma Henyecz was a Gatorade Player of the Week after her big day against Hawthorne last year and she returns under center. The Knights were 5-5 last year and expect to be contenders in 2024.
Pompton Lakes
In their first year as a program last year the Cardinals went 2-8 and they bring back 12 players including senior WR/DL Summer Sass, who was a first-team AllNJIC defender last year. They're still learning the game in Pompton Lakes, but learning fast.
South Division
Harrison
The Blue Tide reached the NJIC Championship game last year finishing 10-1 and eighth in the unofficial rankings. Coach Dan Nankivell brings back several standouts including sophomore running back Mya De Jesus (14 touchdowns last year) and junior quarterback Hailey Scocco.
Lyndhurst
Dan Kesack takes over a program that finished 5-5 last year and brings back five starters including sophomore QB Nikalena Iacono, WR Asya Akar, Junior, RB Madeline Turano, and DB Kyla Marino. There are girls who are in their third year on the team, and the belief is they can compete for a league title.
North Arlington
The Vikings bring back one of the best offensive combos in the area in senior quarterback Daliana Rojas (12 TD passes) and wide receiver Lia Cruz (17 total scores). Kyra Garcia led the Vikings with eight interceptions and 64 flag pulls. If the Vikings can improve defensively, they'll be in the mix for the league title.
Secaucus
Secaucus' first year of flag football was a hit, with the Patriots going 8-2 for co-Head Coaches Charlie Voorhees and Tom Curry. Now they bring back 11 starters including a big senior class that includes quarterback Alyssa Craigwell.
Wallington
The Panthers bring back their entire roster from last year, including dual threat sophomore quarterback Natalia Poweska and junior linebacker Amanda Concannon who had 36 flag pulls and a pair of picks last year.
Wood-Ridge
The Blue Devils put up huge numbers last year and finished 6-4 in their first year. Sophomore Lia Russo had 12 scores and Fiona Helly had nine touchdowns in four games before an injury ended her season. Wood-Ridge brings every starter back but two and are fast and tough.