St. Joseph’s dominance in the Michigan Girls High School Flag Football League starts at the youth level.
St. Joseph’s youth league now has 102 girls, enough for all-girls teams and divisions. When Lainie Dorow started playing in fifth grade, she was the only girl on her team. Then she was one of four. Now, dozens of younger girls hope to one day lead a team to a state title – or even back-to-back championships, like she did Sunday, June 7.
Dorow went 18-for-32 passing for 223 yards, three touchdowns, two 2-point conversions and one interception. She also returned an interception 33 yards for a score on defense to help the Bears beat Gibraltar Carlson, 28-12 and repeat as state champions at Ford Field.
“We’ve got girls at 5, 6 and 7 years old learning how to play quarterback, run routes and defend passes,” said coach Matt Koch, who also directs the St. Joe Rocket and Flag Football program. “So our program doesn’t start in ninth grade. Really, it starts in kindergarten in some cases, and we’re not from a big area. It’s been great seeing the kind of role models our girls have been for younger girls who try to emulate them. Girls in Berrien County love football and the opportunity to play.”
The No. 1-seeded Bears (7-0) drew a first-round bye in the second annual tournament hosted by the Detroit Lions, beat Wyandotte Roosevelt in the quarterfinals and Goodrich in the semifinals, then wasted no time taking control against the Marauders (7-1).
Dorow tossed a 29-yard TD pass to Lauer Wright three minutes in. On the next possession, she found Wright again for a 1-yard score.
Then Dorow returned a pick-six off Carlson quarterback Lauren Dunwoody, pushing the lead to 20-0 with 4:30 left before halftime.
“My teammates were just going up and getting the ball,” Dorow said. “I trust that even if there are defenders on them they’ll come down with the ball for me.”
However, Carlson made things interesting.
Juju Atcheson caught a 37-yard TD pass down the far sideline to cut the deficit to 12 before halftime. Then Dunwoody led a methodical opening drive in the second half, setting up Blake Zachary’s 4-yard TD catch to make it a one-score game.
But Dorow answered with a 3-yard TD pass to Meghan Postelli.
The Bears’ defense later came up with a fourth-down stop at the 27-yard line and forced a punt to seal the victory.
“Lainie is a consummate leader and one of the most selfless people I’ve ever met, but don’t take her kindness for weakness,” Koch said. “She’s the most competitive person I’ve seen. At the end of that first half, she got a little angry [that Carlson scored]. And when she plays angry, watch out. The sky is the limit for her.”
Dorow’s teammates certainly weren’t complaining about her competitive edge.
Postelli finished with seven catches for 71 yards. Wright added four catches for 45 yards. Sophia Pierangeli had two catches for 28 yards and a 2-point conversion. Ella Zmrhal also caught a 2-point conversion, while Maisy Gable rushed four times for 45 yards.
“I’ve been coaching Lainie since the fifth grade, so the magic starts with her arm,” Koch said. “From there, she’s just been a student of the game. She’ll text me route concepts at 10 p.m. sometimes, and we talk ball all the time. She’s a spectacular young lady with a huge future.”
Dunwoody finished 13-for-27 for 143 yards for Carlson. Atcheson caught five passes for 78 yards, Josi Farago had three catches for 29 yards, Zachary had three catches for 33 yards and Jillian Farago added three catches for 34 yards. Addison Burgei recorded an interception on defense.
Winning back-to-back state championships wasn’t given for the Bears. But chasing a three-peat and future titles should be a little easier, knowing talent continues to rise through the youth ranks.
Having mentors like Dorow should only help that pipeline grow.
“I hope to be an inspiration and role model for the girls coming up,” Dorow said. “I want to show them that anything is possible, especially if they create a close bond with their teammates, because they need that to be successful.”
Brandon Folsom covers high school sports in metro Detroit for Hometown Life and the Detroit Free Press. Follow him on X at @folsomwrites.
This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: St. Joseph girls flag football downs Gibraltar Carlson for 2nd title
Reporting by Brandon Folsom, Hometownlife.com / Hometownlife.com
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By Brandon Folsom, Hometownlife.com | USA TODAY Network
