Three quarterbacks throw for five TD each as girls flag season gets underway
by Bryan Zollman, Let’s Play Football
Fifty-one teams lined up against each other Sunday, April 27, as the girls high school flag season kicked off its 2025 campaign in all areas of the state. Games were played throughout the metro area in cities like Minneapolis, Apple Valley, Eden Prairie, Champlin Park and North St. Paul. Games were also played in rural parts of the state including Melrose, Fairmont and Pine Island.
The weather was cold and windy, reminiscent of fall football as fans bundled up to watch the girls take to the gridiron for the first time. Many of the girls have never played organized football before, so this was their first actual competition outside of practice. Some of them are also competing in other spring sports.
Talent was abound as three quarterbacks threw five touchdowns to lead their teams on the field. St. Cloud Tech’s Sydney Shamla, Minneapolis Washburn’s Reese Jorgensen and La Crescent-Hokah’s Cami Esser each threw five touchdowns. Shamla led all passers with 289 yards while Jorgensen threw for 265.
The league is made up of six districts, five of them with eight teams each and District 6 with 11 to make up the 51 teams.
Be sure to follow Let’s Play Football to get scores, highlights, photos and video of the upcoming season and playoffs.
St. Cloud Tech’s Sydney Shamla looks for an open receiver. Shamla threw for 289 yards and five touchdowns in their 32-24 win over Melrose.St. Cloud Tech 32, Melrose 24
St. Cloud Tech’s Sydney Shamla threw for five touchdown passes, connecting with Reese Ruska on three of them as tech defeated Melrose 32-24 in the opening weekend of girls flag football.
Shamla completed 19 of 34 passes for 289 yards. Ruska caught nine passes for 176 yards and three scores. Violet Anderson and Greta Anderson also caught touchdown passes.
Melrose quarterback Avery Braegelmann connected on 18 of 29 pass attemopts for 193 yards and three touchdowns. She connected with Abby Klaphake on two touchdowns and with Lex Vesel on another. Braegelmann also ran for a touchdown to lead Melrose.
Defensievly, Ruska and Shamla led St, Cloud Tech in tackles with Ruska recording seven and Shamla five. Melrose’s Emerson Malchow and Ella Klaphake each led with three. Malchow also led Melrose in rushing with 31 yards on two carries.
St. Cloud Tech followed up their win over Melrose with a 32-6 win over Monticello. Melrose followed up with a 24-18 win over Sartell.
Monticello’s Destony Quigley looks for a pass during their game against Sartell Sunday in Melrose.Minneapolis Washburn 45, Minneapolis Southwest 21
Reese Jorgensen completed 19 for 265 yards and five touchdowns to lead Washburn past Southwest 45-21 Sunday at Washburn High School. Jorgensen also ran for a touchdown.
Washburn’s Vivian Ferris caught four touchdowns on seven receptions for 85 yards. Olivia Harrell also caught a touchdown and had nine receptions for 155 yards. Harrell also had 135 yards rushing.
Southwest QB Ana Kol-Balfour threw for 80 yards and two touchdowns, both to Hazel Hanson. Defensively, Southwest’s Kaysa Welsh had four interceptions.
Minneapolis Washburn also beat Minneapolis South 21-6. In that game Harrell threw for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Ferris caught nine passes for 125 yards and a touchdown and Flora Gustin caught four passes for 60 yards and a TD. Gustin also ran in for a score.
Isabelle Luhman connected with Adyra Fine for South’s lone score.
Eastview 40, Apple Valley 6
Maya Jenkins completed 10 passes, four of them for touchdowns to lead Eastview past Apple Valley 40-6 Sunday at Apple Valley High School. Maren Applegate also threw for a touchdown.
Bra Ja Toorry caught three touchdown passes and Sophia Berwald and Myah Maull also scored TDs.
Kaliyah Kraft led Apple Valley with four completions for 53 yards and a touchdown to Alma Cavillo.
In their other game Eastview fell to Rosemount 44-6.
Eastview lines up against Rosemount.La Crescent-Hokah 75, Rochester Mayo 6
La Crescent-Hokah’s Cami Esser threw five touchdown passes and Eve Cody threw for two more to lead them past Rochester Mayo Sunday at Pine Island Stadium.
Abbi Ernster caught three TD passes and Cracey Cody nabbed two. Savannah Klinski and Kinley Kallenbach each had one TD catch. Klinski also had two rushing touchdowns and Gracey Cody added another.
The La Crescent-Hokah defense also picked off seven passes with Klinski and Ernster each grabbing two on the day. Gracey Cody, Esser and Brooklyn Mitchell each had one.
In their other game on the day, La Crescent-Hokah defeated host team Pine Island 52-20.
Minnetonka 33, Eden Prairie 12
Minnetonka’s Tyler Jabs threw for a touchdown and Avery Bierly threw for a pair of scores to lead the Skippers past Eden Prairie 33-12 at Eden Prairie High School.
Three different Minnetonka receivers scored, including Layla Hemp, Ellery Winter and Maddie Mosiman. Matilda Olson had two interceptions for the Skippers. Winter and Mosiman also had picks.
Tina Do connected with Jilary Sanchez for one of Eden Prairie’s two touchdowns. Natalee Shoemaker rushed for 86 yards on nine carries and also added a touchdown.
Other scores:
Minneapolis Roosevelt 16, Minneapolis Camden 9
Mahtomedi 18, Roseville 12
Tartan 53, North St. Paul 31
Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 25, Fairmont 14
Lakeville South 46, Lakeville North 13
Bloomington 38, Eden Prairie 0
Centennial 25, Mounds View 12
Proctor 64, Spring Lake Park 6
Big Lake 24, Elk River 12
DeLaSalle 32, Richfield 0
Burnsville 41, Two Rivers 12
Mahtomedi 45, Tartan 14
Centennial 32, Proctor 26
St. Michael-Albertville 20, Big Lake 14
Mounds View 33, Spring Lake Park 13
DeLaSalle 46, Burnsville 29
Park-Cottage Grove 33, South St. Paul 12
Park-Cottage Grove 25, Woodbury 18
South St. Paul 20, Simley 20
Rosemount 44, Eastview 6
Bloomington 28, Hopkins 19
Rosemount 41, Eagan 6
Lakeville South 46, Fairmont 6
