By Mason Byers
Staff Writer
The second season of AIA flag football has officially wrapped up.
This means that there are a lot of players who balled out this year that get some recognition. This season, Hypamark and I put together All-Arizona Flag Football teams to showcase some of the best talent in Arizona, presented by Whataburger.
All the teams were crafted carefully and because of the great competition that went on this year, it made some of the rankings difficult. However, all of the AIA Flag Football teams consist of some of the best talent Arizona high school flag football has to offer.
There are two teams for each conference (4A, 5A, 6A) and each team will include one quarterback, one running back, and three wide receivers. Then for defense, it will have two linebackers/rushers and three defensive backs.
In total there will be 60 players that are on these teams, however, there is a lot of talent in the state of Arizona for flag football, so here are some honorable mentions that were also spectacular this year:
Honorable Mentions
Izzy Pap (QB Campo Verde), Kylie Hammer (LB Shadow Ridge), Tierah Metcalf (QB Mountain View Mesa), Becky Currence (WR O’Connor), Terandra Harper (DB Dobson).
Along with the teams, there are also coaches of the year and players of the year.
Coaches of the year
6A- Matt Stone (Hamilton): Stone put together one of the most dominant runs in AIA flag football history up to this point with his 2024 team. His team compiled a 17-0 record and capped it off by winning the 6A championship.
5A- Michael Beal (Canyon View): Beal avenged his 2023 squad who lost in the 5A championship game by coming out in 2024 even better. His team finished the season 15-1 and currently sits atop of the 5A conference after winning the championship.
4A- Sergio Ramirez (Mountain Pointe): Ramirez led his young team to a remarkable season after they were moved down to 5A. His squad put together a remarkable 15-1 record with their only loss coming in the 5A championship game. Although his squad is getting ready to gear up and get the championship in 2025.
Players of the year
6A- Malaysia Roebuck (Marana): Roebuck was only a junior in 2024, however, she has improved her game and continues to be one of the more dominant wide receivers in Arizona. She hauled in 55 passes for 890 yards and 15 touchdowns this season to help Marana have a great year. She was a two-way player this year too, on the defensive side she finished with 63 flag pulls, three sacks, and five interceptions.
5A- Katelyn Jewell (Canyon View): Jewell capped off her last year in high school with her best season of flag football yet. After losing in the 5A championship in 2023, she came out even better and led her team to a championship. This year she had 4113 passing yards to go along with a 65-7 touchdown interception ratio. She also had 259 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Jewell will go down as one of the best AIA flag football quarterbacks after her great career.
4A- Gwen Carter (St. Mary’s): Carter and her teammates helped put people on notice this season with the St. Mary’s team. This was the first year St. Mary’s had a flag football team competing at the AIA level. They went undefeated and won the 4A championship and a lot of that was helped by Carter. She did everything and anything for her team this year. She had 630 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns, and also 623 receiving yards and seven touchdowns caught. Then on defense, she led her team with seven interceptions, proving she could do it all this season.
Those are the Hypamark flag football awards for the 2024 season. Next year should prove to be even better and we will see some new names for these awards next season. Congrats to all the winners and everyone else who keeps growing and improving the sport.
Here's a look at all the winners.
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