The high school girls flag football season began Sept. 15 at schools across the state.

West Valley Preps and the Glendale Independent and Peoria Independent asked local high school coaches about their teams. Here are their responses:

Deer Valley Skyhawks

Coach: Jesse Monsisvais (first season as Deer Valley coach)
2024 Record: 8-4 overall, 4-1 region (first round of 4A playoffs)
Region: 4A Skyline
Who are your top returning players?: Junior Allison Morris. Second-year player and starting quaterback.  Senior Deja Ayers. Second year at Deer Valley. She was a top receiver for us last year and we're looking for her to continue and improve. Junior Chloe Utter. Third-year player and a starting safety on defense. Junior JoJo Relampagos. Second year player due to return from injury in early October.
Who are some of the newcomers that may have an impact this year? Freshman Bella Jones, an excellent receiver, and defender with great field vision and knowledge of the game. Junior Kaydence Neilsen, a first-year flag football player who’s softball experience and natural athleticism has helped her pick up the game quickly.
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? We have a great team dynamic. The players are very selfless and work together well. We have some great leaders on both sides of the ball.
Which teams on this season’s schedule are you most looking forward to and will be the toughest? We’re looking forward to our trip Oct. 7 to Mohave High School in Bullhead City. It will be a long day of travel and I feel the time on the bus will give the players more time to bond. As for the toughest opponent we are not taking anyone lightly. We are approaching the season with a game at a time mentality.
What are the primary goals for this year’s team? Our primary team goal is to win as many games as possible, to make the playoffs and play well into November. Individually, each player has her own goals that they all set at the begining of the season. Those range from “getting my first pick (interception)” to “improving at my position.”

O'Connor Eagles

Coach: Robert Latona (second season)
2024 Record: 10-2 overall, 8-2 region (first round of 6A playoffs)
Region: 6A West Valley
Who are your top returning players?: Senior WR/DB Rebecca Currence, senior RB/DB Ava Hannosh, senior LB/WR Bella Wolf, junior QB Kylie Pruitt and sophomore rusher Alivia Escalera.
Who are some of the newcomers that may have an impact this year? Sophomore WR/DB Kyleigh Adams and junior WR Ally McCall.

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Our best attribute is running and catching. The seniors are very skilled at what they do.
Which teams on this season’s schedule are you most looking forward to and will be the toughest? We have a rough schedule. We play Marana, Mountain Ridge and Xavier. Our rival is Mountain Ridge (the game is Sept. 26 at Mountain Ridge) and we always look forward for that.
What are the primary goals for this year’s team? Win the region, be competitive in the payoffs and win a state title.

Peoria Panthers

Coach: Shane Sullivan

2025 Record: Did not play in AIA league
Region: 4A Skyline
Who are your top returning players?: Our top returning players are Niya Robinson-Campbell, a senior and a two-way player who plays quarterback and linebacker. She is a three-year starter who is very athletic. Camilia Rivas is another senior who is one a fantastic center who can block and catch. Another returning three-year player is Jasmin Murrietta. She is very tough and plays with a lot of grit. Juniors Arianna Ceberos (corner) Is’Zabell Wilson (WR), Joslynn Gibbons (S) and Demiyah Petty (WR) bring in a strong class with a lot of athleticism. We expect great leadership from them this upcoming season. Siyenna Gamboa is working her way into a deep wide receiver group but is a great kicker from long range.
Who are some of the newcomers that may have an impact this year? We have a lot of talented freshmen that will impact our varsity team this year. Running back Melanie Madera has great hands and blocks well. Makayla Espinoza, Desire Tann and Natalia Koch Cruz are working their way into playing time as wide receivers. They will allow our more polished players, older players, to play on one side of the ball.
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Our attitude, hard work, dedication is our best attribute this year. In under a month, they all have gotten quicker, faster and better route runners.
Which teams on this season’s schedule are you most looking forward to and will be the toughest? I believe our schedule is one of the toughest in 4A this season. We have a lot of teams that made the playoffs this year in the Skyline Region. St. Mary’s returns as the defending 4A state champion. Deer Valley and Thunderbird should be playoff bound. We also play Arizona College Prep, a top team in 5A, Eastmark has some of the top players in the state returning, and ALA QC is a very tough team to play on the road this season.
What are the primary goals for this year’s team? We currently have 27 players on our varsity and JV roster. Our goal is for the ladies to continue to grow the sport on our campus, showing what a great sport it is.