In partnership with the Minnesota Vikings, Centennial High School became the 54th high school in Minnesota to field a girls flag football team. In December of 2024 the Viking approached Centennial Defensive Coordinator Michael Diggins about starting a flag football team, becoming one of the first schools in the north metro to host flag football.
The current roster consists of 33 girls between the junior varsity and varsity teams, coming from a variety of different athletic backgrounds like soccer and hockey.
“We had a bunch of leaders in our school, stars on our soccer team, on our hockey team,” Diggins said. “And they were all for it.”
At the start of the season the group practiced just twice a week with only a handful of practice before their first game action. Despite the group’s inexperience, the competitiveness and interest was high from the start. As the Cougars were placed in a section with local north metro schools like Mahtomedi, Spring Lake Park and Mounds View.
“I think that was kind of the big takeoff moment,” Diggins said. “Was when they learned this was going to be a league, just like every other school, every other sport in the state.”
Still as girls flag football gets off the ground the sport is not yet sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League and is considered club status. Official records and stats are still kept and can be viewed on the Minnesota football hub. There are even all conference and all-state honors for standout performers.
On the field the Cougars finished with a 7-1 record in their inaugural season with their lone loss coming to Mahtomedi. As a result, the Cougars hosted the sectionals at Centennial High School last weekend. At sections, the Cougars beat North St. Paul 33-0 and Roseville 25-0 to advance to state.
“The girls played awesome, and we had a great crowd to play in front of. The defense obviously excelled not giving up any points in both games,” Diggins said.
Beyond sections and even the state tournament, this first season is a stepping stone to bigger things for the sport. As it grows with 54 schools hosting a club team in just the sports second year, momentum continues to build towards becoming a fully sanctioned sport.
“I think this is going to be something that pops here soon,” Diggins said. “When they see the interest that girls have for it.”
With full sport status still a few years down the road, the Cougars are content with looking ahead to state, which takes place on Monday, June 9 at TCO Stadium. For the current group, being members of the first team is rewarding in and of itself.
“I hope that in years to come, it’s a bigger sport.” Senior Nora Helvig said. “And just like getting to be on that first team, it’s pretty cool.”