Shore girls flag football all-star game a first: 'All these girls, they started it'

WEST LONG BRANCH -- The coming year will be a defining one for the sport of girls flag football in New Jersey. It will go down in history as the first year that the sport was officially sanctioned by the state, a pioneering moment for a sport that is growing exponentially in popularity.

But that history will be built upon the foundation laid by the revolutionary athletes in the class of 2024, the catalysts of the sport's growth over the past few years. And on Sunday, they got their moment to shine at Monmouth University.

"All these girls, they started it when they were freshmen," said Pinelands and South team coach John Tierney. "This is their foundation. This is what they've done, and it's just going to get bigger and bigger from here."

More: Meet the 2024 All-Shore Girls Flag Football Teams: Who made the 1st, 2nd and 3rd teams?

The South girls won the first-ever flag football all-star game at the 47th All-Shore Gridiron Classic, presented by the Shore Football Coaches Foundation, at Kessler Field, beating the North team 25-22 in a matchup that came down to the wire. While the competition delivered in its introduction to the all-star lineup of games, it was a chance to recognize the trail blazers that grew the game to the current inflection point where it begins being fully sanctioned NJSIAA sport in the spring of 2025.

The players were all recent graduates from the Shore, enjoying a final moment with the game they helped build.

"Some of those girls are playing their last flag game ever," Tierney continued. "Playing here at Monmouth University in front of a great crowd. And it was a fun day for everybody."

South holds off late push from North to win first SFCF flag game

South got out to an early lead, scoring on their first drive as the Pinelands combo of eventual team MVP Emily Minarik found Ava Slinchak for the game's first touchdown. The South All-Stars doubled their advantage to 12-0 when Minarik found Central Regional's Breyanna Sullivan for another touchdown.

"We have the best of the best," said Minarik. "(We know) how to make plays and change up the plays to get a touchdown."

There was a fair amount of improvisation since the teams don't get a lot of practice time together, and that seemed to favor the athleticism of the South with players such as Alexandria Veltri of Central Regional, who made multiple big defensive steps from the defensive backfield.

But the North answered. First with an interception (worth two points in flag football rules) to make it 12-2 and followed by a touchdown reception by Princess Graves of Keansburg along with a two-point conversion. But a tip drill touchdown by the South's Alayah Vincent at the end of the first half gave South an 18-10 lead to end the first half.

After a defensive stalemate in the first four drives of the second half, Julia Jensen of Middletown North cut the deficit to 18-16 with a touchdown for North. Another Minarik to Slinchak touchdown gave the South the 25-16 cushion as the South held off a late comeback attempt from the North squad to win 25-22.

First of many all-star events for growing sport

There were a few hitches, as even the jersey numbers and rosters were not quite finalized until game day. But the inaugural event was a testament to the dedicated football players who helped ensure the game would grow into a fully sanctioned state sport.

"We decided about three months ago to do this game, which I thought it was a great idea. Myself and coach Glassman brought it up cause he coached at Middletown North," said Tierney. "Obviously we had hiccups this year, but the game still looks great with some hiccups. And next year is gonna be even better."

As the players move on to college, some will continue their athletic pursuits while others will leave the fond memories of sports in high school. But the achievement of their efforts and what it means for future generations is not lost on the recent graduates.

"It's amazing to be the first year and end it on a good note," said Minarik, who will attend Stockton University. "I'm really excited for the next group of girls to get this opportunity. Because I think it's a great game."

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore girls flag football all-star game a first: 'All these girls, they started it'