By Kyle LoJacono
Since the spring of 2006, Hillsborough County high school girls have been competing on the same football gridiron as the boys.
That year, the Hillsborough School District Athletic Department adopted flag football as a sport. Pasco County’s department instead opted to offer girls weightlifting around that same time.
“It allows us to get a feel for what the guys go through,” said Freedom senior running back Katie Cerillo. “It also lets us show that we aren’t little weak girls like everyone thinks. We can come out and play a sport just as well as they can.”

The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) first offered flag football as a recognized sport in 2003. Hillsborough athletic director Lanness Robinson said those in the department felt it was the best sport to offer to the girls in the county. That decision has created an opportunity for girls like Steinbrenner sophomore Alyssa Dawson, who attended Land O’ Lakes last year.
“I actually like playing sports more here than in Pasco County,” Dawson said. “They do a lot of things differently here. I didn’t get to play flag football in Pasco County and I really wanted to. We actually did petitions to try and get it accepted in Pasco County, but they told us for liability reasons they couldn’t. So when I moved here, I was really excited to participate.”
Dawson said many members of her family have played football growing up.
“My dad (Kevin) was a quarterback and graduated from Gaither High School, so football is something that is in my family” Dawson said. “My little cousin is an amazing quarterback and will be going to Tampa Catholic. So it’s something that runs in my family and I’m very competitive, so I wanted to play.”

Freedom has had its own addition this year. Senior quarterback Briahanna Jackson transferred from Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel this year and is excited to play the sport.
Gaither senior Debra Hollins is a veteran of the sport, playing for the Cowboys the last three years.
“It’s a great experience playing flag football,” Hollins said. “I know a lot of girls who want to play tackle football. It’s a great opportunity, and I think all girls should try it.”
Steinbrenner first-year coach Jen Graham is very interested in seeing where the sport progresses in the coming years.
“I’m glad that it’s stuck around and I’ve heard talk about getting it started in colleges,” Graham said. “That would be great because there are a lot of girls who are as good or better than the guys. I think it’s awesome for the girls.”
The activity is still very new, so most players come from other sports.
“It offers them another outlet to participate in a very fun sport,” said Freedom coach Dennis Derflinger. “We have a lot of athletes from other sports, like basketball, soccer, cheerleading and swimming. They come from a wide variety of activities and this gives them another great experience.”
Cerillo is one of those cross-over athletes. She is also a soccer player.
“It helps with the footwork,” said Cerillo. “You have to have quick feet in soccer and it makes it easier to get around people so they don’t get my flag.”
Even Derflinger, of Lutz, is not limited to one sport. He is also the Freedom boys soccer coach.
Flag football has only one classification unlike most FHSAA sports. Another difference is only the top four squads in each district make the district tournament, with only the champion advancing in the playoffs. In most others, the champ and runner-up move on.
Hillsborough schools played in 2006, but did not participate in the postseason. No county team has won a state title, but Plant City and Alonso made the championship game in 2008 and 2010 respectively.
Freedom will host the District 12 tournament this year April 26 and 27. The state tournament is May 6 and 7 at Boca Raton High.
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