This spring marked a first for the state of Ohio: the beginning of an Ohio High School Athletic Association-sanctioned flag football competition. Now, the playoffs are upon us.
Flag football first came to Cincinnati thanks to the Cincinnati Bengals and NFL Flag. Through partnerships with USA Football and Nike, the Bengals provide equipment and uniforms to local schools and give local athletes opportunities to develop and display their skills.
Southwest Ohio’s pilot season of flag football took place with six schools in 2024, then expanded to 20 teams in 2025. After the OHSAA officially sanctioned the sport this offseason, the number of participating Southwest Ohio schools rose to 41.
Flag football is rising in popularity not just in the United States, but across the globe. Seventeen states currently sanction flag football as a varsity sport, and the sport will make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
Cincinnati is quickly establishing itself as a hotbed for flag football talent. Some of the best young players in the country call the Queen City home, and Badin won the first state championship in 2025.
As the 2026 OHSAA flag football playoffs begin with the regional tournaments on May 6, Cincinnati’s best will battle it out at Badin High School for the opportunity to advance. The top eight teams will head to Paycor Stadium for the Bengals championship, and the top four will advance to the May 11 state championship at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
Here are some of the top teams to watch out for as the OHSAA flag football playoffs get underway.
Mount Notre Dame
Southwest Ohio’s top team in the regular season, Mount Notre Dame is led by one of the top player’s in the country. Evie Schoolfield was a finalist for Maxwell Football Club’s National Flag Football Player of the Year award in 2025, and has been dominant once again in her senior season. She’s thrown for 1,793 yards and led the Cougars to a 10-0 record. Schoolfield has had a pair of strong receiving targets to throw to in seniors Hayden Elmlinger and Addy Vaughan, both of whom have hauled in over 500 receiving yards.
On defense, senior Grace Bodkin has racked up 38 flag pulls and five interceptions to keep the Cougars balanced. Juniors Lydia Sanders and Lea Johnson have made impacts in their respective defensive areas, as Sanders has seven interceptions and Johnson has nine sacks. The Cougars have won the Bengals’ Flag Football Championship two years in a row, and hope to make it a three-peat in 2026.
Seton
Another Greater Girls Catholic League team earned the second seed in the regional tournament: the Seton Saints. Led by sophomore quarterback Charlotte Holm, the Saints are one of the most dangerous offenses in the state. Holm has thrown for 2,359 yards and 49 touchdowns in a 10-2 season, targeting state-leading junior receiver Ellie Wegman (961 yards) and senior Bre Miller (645 yards).
Defensively, junior SaRyah Cannon leads Ohio with 69 flag pulls. Fellow junior Liz Beckenhaupt missed over half the year with injury, but in her five games back she’s already snagged eight interceptions. The Saints have only allowed more than 20 points twice this year.
Princeton
Princeton takes the third seed in the region with several multi-sport athletes fans may recognize. Basketball star sophomore Erin Thomas, who led the Vikings to the state championship in March, plays receiver alongside a fellow hoops star, freshman Yaya Parrish (formerly of Western Hills). Quarterback Kiki Harris was also a member of the Vikings’ trip to the basketball state championship game.
The Vikings went 8-2 in the regular season, winning six in a row to enter the playoffs.
Badin
The Badin Rams are the defending state champions, beating Willoughby South 40-16 in the 2025 state championship. Led by returning Enquirer co-player of the year Bella Heile, the Rams have the championship pedigree to make another run to Canton.
Walnut Hills
Walnut Hills secured the fifth seed with an 11-3 season, closing on seven straight wins. A pair of junior receivers have been instrumental to the Eagles’ success in 2026. Linde Harris hauled in 43 catches for 747 yards and 15 touchdowns, also playing defense and snagging a team-leading 10 interceptions with six touchdown returns. London Byers has proven a threat in the passing and running game, racking up 859 combined yards and 10 combined touchdowns. The Eagles starting quarterback, sophomore Kisanet Micheal, threw for 1,746 yards and 30 touchdowns this season.
Aiken
Aiken completed a perfect 12-0 regular season on the strength of a shutdown defense. Only four of the Falcons’ opponents were able to score multiple touchdowns and Aiken pitched a shutout against as many teams. Led by senior quarterback Destinee Kelly and sophomore receiver Janai Hall, Aiken scored over 24 points in every game this season.
St. Ursula
Seventh-seeded St. Ursula had one of the toughest schedules of any Southwest Ohio team, but still came out with a 7-5 record. Seniors Penelope Bolinger and Emerson Majors have had a special connection, as the QB/WR duo have teamed up for 69 receptions, 706 yards, and 12 touchdowns. Fellow senior Liz Thurnau has been a threat in the defensive backfield, batting down eight passes and intercepting five.
Hughes
Hughes went 11-0 in the regular season to claim the Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference Red Division crown. The Big Red had a dynamic offense, scoring over 30 points in all but two games. A strong rushing attack was led by the combination of seniors Abriyel Opoku and Amiyah Foster and sophomore Saidaly Simon. Junior corner Princess Walter-Monroe was a ball-hawking menace for opposing quarterbacks, stealing 16 interceptions and breaking up 24 passes.
Purcell Marian
Purcell Marian had a shaky start to the year, but closed strong with seven wins in eight games. The Cavaliers’ young talent has been key in their success. Freshman multi-threat Tylee Littlejohn threw for six touchdowns, caught four, and ran for another 11 scores. A pair of freshmen shore up the defense, as Mauri Lewis and Lydaya Lewis are first and second lead the team in flag pulls. Senior Aliyah Robinson balances out the young roster, catching 10 touchdowns as a receiver and snagging four interceptions on defense.
Woodward
Woodward finished the season at 10-4, going on a six-game winning streak to enter postseason play. The Bulldogs had big production from several key two-way players. Senior quarterback and corner Tabriyia Richardson combined for 1,922 passing and rushing yards, 40 combined touchdowns, and had four interceptions on defense. Senior Esme Bibian secured 43 flag pulls and seven sacks, while also gaining 387 yards and four touchdowns as a runner and receiver. Another senior, Leigha Acoff, only played nine games but caught 20 touchdown passes and four interceptions, including two for touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top Cincinnati teams in first year of OHSAA flag football playoffs
Reporting by Chase Souder, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
