The girls high school flag football season heads into October with a new team atop the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 rankings.
After another competitive week filled with close calls and significant upsets, Trinity League power Orange Lutheran (Calif.) opened at No. 1 after defeating a tough Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) team, 20-13.
The Lancers’ standout quarterback, Makena Cook, grabbed the spotlight in what turned out to be one of the best games this season.
What a battle between the two best flag football QBs, Madi Lam of Santa Margarita and Makena Cook of Orange Lutheran. And WR Julia Oberholtzer of OL. OL won 20-13. pic.twitter.com/5tWwUBVm2k
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) October 2, 2024
Former top-ranked Mountain View (Mesa, Ariz.) suffered its first loss of the season, opening the door for Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) to move up in the rankings to No. 5 this week—while taking over the No. 1 spot in Arizona.
Central (Phenix, Ala.), the top Alabama program and arguably one of the best defensive teams in the country, jumped to No. 2.
Outside looking in, four new teams appear this week, headlined by an undefeated NorCal squad of out Sacramento.
And the highly anticipated wait in the Peach State is over: Georgia high school flag football kicks off this weekend, which includes No. 3 Pope (Marietta, Ga.) and No. 11 Southeast Bulloch (Brooklet, Ga.).
Super 25 flag football selection process
In partnership with the NFL, a USA TODAY Network selection committee of editors and writers in the participating states, along with the USA TODAY High School Sports staff, determine the teams.
The process considers factors ranging from last year’s results based on NFHS Network data, carryover into this season, and a primary focus on 2024 records.
With that in mind, here is the latest USA TODAY Sports Super 25 girls flag football rankings:
(Records updated as of Oct. 3, 2024)
1. Orange Lutheran (Calif.)
Record: 18-0 | Previous Rank: 1
California State Ranking: 1
2. Central (Phenix City, Ala.)
Record: 6-0 | Previous Rank: 4
Alabama State Ranking: 1
3. Pope (Marietta, Ga.)
Record: 0-0 | Previous Rank: 3
Georgia State Ranking: 1
Watch Live: Calvary Day vs. Pope on NFHS Network
4. South Anchorage (Alaska)
Record: 14-1 | Previous Rank: 6
Alaska State Ranking: 1
5. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Record: 4-0 | Previous Rank: 9
Arizona State Ranking: 1
6. Mountain View (Mesa, Ariz.)
Record: 7-1 | Previous Rank: 1
Arizona State Ranking: 2
8. Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
Record: 11-0 | Previous Rank: 9
Colorado State Ranking: 1
9. Guilford (Rockford, Ill.)
Record: 14-0 | Previous Rank: 11
Illinois State Ranking: 1
10. Saint Joseph (Lakewood, Calif.)
Record: 16-0 | Previous Rank: 10
California State Ranking: 2
11. Southeast Bulloch (Brooklet, Ga.)
Record: 0-0 | Previous Rank: 8
Georgia State Ranking: 2
12. Maine South (Park Ridge, Ill.)
Record: 17-1 | Previous Rank: 5
Illinois State Ranking: 2
13. The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Record: 10-1 | Previous Rank: 12
Colorado State Ranking: 2
14. Vestavia Hills (Ala.)
Record: 11-1 | Previous Rank: 13
Alabama State Ranking: 2
15. Newport Harbor (Newport Beach, Calif.)
Record: 19-2 | Previous Rank: 16
California State Ranking: 3
16. Marana (Tucson, Ariz.)
Record: 4-0 | Previous Rank: 21
Arizona State Ranking: 3
17. Greenbrier (Evans, Ga.)
Record: 0-0 | Previous Rank: 17
Georgia State Ranking: 3
18. Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.)
Record: 10-1 | Previous Rank: 20
Colorado State Ranking: 3
19. Taft (Chicago, Ill.)
Record: 19-3 | Previous Rank: 7
Illinois State Ranking: 3
20. McClatchy (Sacramento, Calif.)
Record: 20-0 | Previous Rank: NR
California State Ranking: 4
21. Prattville (Ala.)
Record: 7-2 | Previous Rank: 23
Alabama State Ranking: 3
22. West Anchorage (Alaska)
Record: 11-3 | Previous Rank: 25
Alaska State Ranking: 2
23. Campo Verde (Gilbert, Ariz.)
Record: 7-2 | Previous Rank: NR
Arizona State Ranking: 4
24. Perspectives Leadership (Chicago, Ill.)
Record: 16-0 | Previous Rank: NR
Illinois State Ranking: 3
25. Daphne (Ala.)
Record: 5-0 | Previous Rank: NR
Colorado State Ranking: 3
Super 25 watch list
26. Aliso Niguel (Aliso Viejo, Calif.)
27. Crane Medical (Chicago, Ill.)
28. Arvada West (Colo.)
29. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)
30. Ponderosa (Shingle Springs, Calif.)
USA TODAY Network selection committee: Will Cheney, CCJ Coastal South Region; Logan Stanley, Reporter at The Arizona Republic; Tommy Deas, CCJ Sports Director; Lauren Jennings, CCJ West Region; Dan Spears, CCJ Deputy Sports Strategist; Rick Suter, USA TODAY HSS.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: USA TODAY Sports Super 25 girls flag football rankings entering Week 3
