In case you haven’t heard, flag football is sweeping the nation. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) has added the game as an official high school sport. The NFL has quickly made it a fan favorite at the annual Pro Bowl Games while the league throws its weight behind developing the sport across the country. And in the 2028 Summer Olympics, Los Angeles will play host to flag football for its first olympic appearance.

Here on the SD campus, Flag Football has been a mainstay in fall sports since it was added to the BCL-West league in 2021. An annual juggernaut in the BCL-West, the Panthers have secured a top-two finish all three years, including the 2022 league championship under legendary coach Mike Fulton. With the 2024 season kicking off this week, the team is raring to go under the new leadership of Head Coach Matt Polsinello.

“I am excited for the players to have the opportunity to display their hard work in front of a rowdy SD home crowd,” explains Coach Polsinello. “The team has been developing many offensive and defensive schemes to keep the opponents guessing.” 

Athletic Director Mark Churchill has been impressed thus far by the energy and raw talent on display during the early season runup. “It's exciting to see such a young group come together, and their determination at practice is fun to watch. We’re eager to see what they can do this year.”

Come check it out for yourself! The Panthers’ season starts this Friday at home as we host Drew at 4:00 pm. For the full season schedule, check out the Flag Football team page.

Go Panthers!