By Kyle LoJacono
The playoffs and Freedom flag football have been synonymous since Hillsborough County fully adopted the sport in 2007.
The program has reached the district tournament, reserved for the top-four teams, each season, a fact that is not lost on the Patriots (1-0).
“It’s like an expectation for us to make the playoffs,” said senior receiver/linebacker Ashle Thompson. “We’ve never missed it, and we don’t want this to be the first team to miss it.”
But for all its winning, something has been noticeably absent from Freedom’s resume since 2008 — a district championship.
“We’re trying to keep that playoff streak going, but now we want to go even further and get past districts,” said senior quarterback Missy Dunbar.
Dennis Derflinger, the only coach in program history, said they fully expect to be one of the top-four teams in the district, but added a deep playoff run will depend largely on how quickly his new players progress.
“We’re relatively young when you look at the roster, so gaining experience and confidence throughout the year is going to determine how far we go,” Derflinger said.
Roster changeover in flag football happens quicker than in most high school sports in part because colleges don’t offer scholarships for it. In some seasons that keeps many of the best athletes away, but the Patriots have seen an infusion of talent this season.
The principle additions have come from the girls basketball team, which was the first in program history to make the state final four during the winter. Among the new crossover athletes are seniors Monet Williams, Whitney Turntine-Ivy and Lauren Repp.
“Everyone out here can help us in one way or another, and having these new girls is going to help us a lot,” Derflinger said. “These new girls, especially Lauren Repp playing soccer growing up and focusing on basketball the last few years, she has skills that translate over. She’s smart and aggressive, so it shouldn’t take her long to get used to the type of things we’re doing.”
Repp, a wide receiver/linebacker, had no flag football experience, but said she always wanted to give it a try.
She said the biggest adjustment is the precision required when executing plays.
“The first time I came out I had trouble running routes exactly right,” Repp said. “In basketball you go as you see the play happening, but in football it’s set and you have to do it exactly. It’s different, but it’s probably a little easier because you don’t have to read anything and just run it.”
Derflinger has had an additional challenge this year to go along with coaching.
He is enrolled in the Future Leaders Academy, which trains people to become assistant principals. Teaching at Riverside Academy in Central Tampa, instead of on Freedom’s campus, forced him to resign as the boys soccer coach.
“The time commitment is a little bit less than with soccer, so I thought I could still handle coaching flag,” Derflinger said. “With soccer I knew there was someone ready to take over because Charlie (Haueter) had been with me as an assistant for two years. This, I don’t know of anyone who was ready to step in and take over, and the truth is this is still a lot of fun.”
Derflinger said he’s relied on his experienced players, like junior wide receiver/cornerback Hannah Seybold, Thompson and Dunbar, who became the starting quarterback last year, to help teach the inexperienced players.
“I’ve been on the team for four years, and I’m trying to help the new girls just coming in,” Dunbar said. “Last year it was all new to me becoming the quarterback, but now I have the feeling of it.”
Thompson said Dunbar’s experience at quarterback is a big plus.
“Every year the team is so different, so you have to readjust,” Thompson said. “Having Missy back at quarterback is a big help this year because she knows what she’s doing and we know her.”
Freedom got the season off to a winning start with a 26-6 victory at Lennard March 19. Dunbar threw two touchdowns and ran in another in the season opener.
“We’re pretty pumped up to get that first win,” Dunbar said. “It’s given us some confidence, and we’re hoping to stay strong.”
The Patriots play in District 16 with Steinbrenner, Gaither, Wharton, Sickles, Leto and two-time defending league champion Alonso. The Ravens host the district tournament April 22 to 24.
Freedom played at Leto March 25, but results were not available by press time. The Patriots travel to district rival Gaither March 28 at 7 p.m.
—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker
