Robinson, Alonso maintain Hillsborough County’s flag football dominance

Flag football teams around the state continue to gain ground, but not fast enough to catch Hillsborough County.

For the fifth time in the past seven years, Hillsborough County won both divisions of the Florida High School Athletic Association’s flag football series in dominating fashion: Alonso claimed the Class 2A title with a 33-6 victory over Fleming Island on Saturday afternoon in Jacksonville, while Robinson took the Class A title with a 32-13 victory over Choctawhatchee.

It was victories piled upon victories.

Robinson has now won seven straight state titles and eight in the last nine seasons, while Alonso won its third state crown in five seasons and no doubt will claim the “national title” after coming into the final with the country’s No. 1 ranking, according to MaxPreps.

But there were a few signs throughout the season that teams are becoming more competitive. Several schools around the Tampa Bay area — notably Lennard, Newsome, Steinbrenner and Riverview — gave Robinson and Alonso more than a little to think about.

Especially Lennard.

During the regular season, the Longhorns (17-4) actually pulled off something no team had done to Robinson in 11 years: They beat the Knights on their home turf, 14-13 in overtime.

Then in a Class 2A region final, Lennard led Alonso 12-0 at halftime, only to lose 20-12 after a furious comeback by the Ravens, who basically cruised in their final two games to close with a 23-0 record.

“Flag football is no longer a novelty,” said Robinson coach Josh Saunders, who along with Alonso has periodically been flown around the country for nationally-televised games and commercials. “The sport has arrived. It’s full of great athletes who can play at a very high level.

“The love for the sport continues to spread very, very fast.”

Case in point are the most recent state champs. Alonso quarterback Mieke Rowe completed 73.4 percent of her passes for 5,001 yards and 95 touchdowns while throwing only 11 interceptions.

Rowe’s top two receivers? Makenna Sturgis (73 receptions, 1,300 yards, 34 touchdowns) and Eryn Klaus (90 receptions, 1,004 yards, 15 touchdowns), who made play after spectacular play down the final stretch run.

Klaus, similar to Rowe and many flag football athletes, came from another sport. Rowe played soccer and Klaus was a top-tier gymnast. Also like many flag athletes, they came to love football as much as or more than their previous sports.

“I had no idea about flag football or what is was really about when I first started,” said Klaus, who is moving on to the University of Florida where she plans to play on the Gators’ club flag team with Rowe. “But it turned out to be better than I ever imagined. The team was so welcoming and we had such a strong bond. I learned so much about teamwork and myself and everything from this experience.

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.

Loading...

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

“I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Pressure? Yes. Alonso coach Matt Hernandez wanted to see his team with nine seniors fulfill their potential after falling short the previous two years.

“They had so much talent and drive,” Hernandez said. “I didn’t want to let them down.”

Robinson (21-2) held similar sentiments after its state title victory, which had a little different twist in dynamic sophomore Haidyn Spano, the first underclassman quarterback in eight years to win a state championship for the Knights.

The previous eight titles were won with eight different senior quarterbacks, a fact that weighed heavily on Spano, an IB student who takes on every task with supreme intensity.

Minutes after the 2022 state title was sealed, Spano, a full-time volleyball player who barely played flag football last year, was found sitting on the sideline crying while everyone else cheered and took photos.

“She said she was feeling tremendous pressure because she knew she was the next quarterback for the next three years and she had to win three titles otherwise she would be letting everybody down,” Saunders said. “I told her, ‘No, if we lose it will be my fault.’ I told her, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll work it all out.’”

One down. Two to go.

“I just kept getting better and better as the season went on,” said Spano, who ended up throwing for 5,274 yards and 98 touchdowns. “The game felt so fast to me at the start of the season but then felt a lot slower by the end of the season. I felt like I could see everything clearly at the end.

“I can’t wait for what’s coming in the next few years. I feel so fortunate to have this opportunity. It’s such a wonderful experience.”

Maybe by the time Spano graduates from Robinson college scholarships for flag football, available now in lower divisions, will be far more abundant.

“The sport is growing all over the country,” said Saunders, who also coaches UF’s club team. “It’s happening right now, and it’s exciting to help make it happen.”