EAGAN, Minn. — And then there were two.

The Vikings recently hosted the high school girls flag football championship tournament, during which 12 schools battled it out until La Crescent-Hokah and Mahtomedi faced each other in the title game.

TCO Stadium lights illuminated the field on a blustery evening, and Mahtomedi gradually took control of the contest and defeated a feisty Lancers squad 36-20 on June 9.

Young women on the sideline sprinted to meet their teammates on the field in a celebratory mob, lifting the black-and-silver trophy above their heads in triumph.

"This means everything for them," Mahtomedi Head Coach Nick Sullivan said. "Everything that we do, and all the success, it's for them. We have a lot of seniors on our team that graduated this weekend, so this kind of a last hurrah for them.

"One last game, the inaugural season? I mean, this is as big as it gets," Sullivan added.

Trailblazers.

It's true of the Zephyrs, who became the first team in state history to officially win the girls high school flag football championship.

It's true also, though, of 50 — 50! — other teams that competed this season. After helping launch a pilot program in 2024 with four teams (La Crescent-Hokah, Rosemount, Houston and Pine Island), the Vikings in 2025 looked to expand to a full league — and expand they did.

"It's just been so cool to see the growth," La Crescent-Hokah senior Savanah Klinski said prior to the final game. "The number of people who have been out here today, it's just been amazing. Last year we were just a small little group, and now the bleachers are filled. It's incredible."

Klinski caught two touchdown passes and a 2-point conversion in the championship game; she earlier helped lead the Lancers to wins over Two Rivers (33-12) and Centennial (24-6). The Zephyrs, quarterbacked by Rylee Bogren, defeated Bloomington and Park (in Cottage Grove) with identical scores of 32-0 en route to facing La Crescent-Hokah.

Mahtomedi senior Presley Albers scored the Zephyrs final touchdown of the evening.

"We wanted to leave everything on the field for our last game. Have fun with my teammates one last time," she said.

"We all grew up watching football with our family, and just to see women [playing football and] little girls can look up to them and know they can do whatever they want, it's special," Albers added.

Competition on the field was fierce. Young women put their athleticism on full display as they threw darts, leapt to make impressive catches and executed Aaron Jones-worthy cuts with the pigskin to protect the yellow flags dangling from belts.

Knees bled, sweat poured and trash talk flew.

But off the field, the athletes share an unmistakable mutual respect.

"Seeing the level of sportsmanship across all the teams throughout this six-week season has been incredible — and something I haven't really seen in any other sport," Vikings Coordinator of Youth & High School Football Emily Weinberg said. "Everyone was really starting with a clean slate. Seeing them build each other up throughout the season and start this sport from the ground up has been incredible.

"I've always known that I loved football, and seeing this girls flag football season come to fruition has made me love it even more. The more people that we're able to get in the game, the merrier. And this is great proof of that," Weinberg added. "One of our goals is to be sure everyone feels welcome here, emphasize that everyone is able to play football. By hosting this culminating championship here at our facility, it really shows just how committed to this game the Vikings are."

Lancers Head Coach Terry Donovan, who also serves as the La Crescent-Hokah Activities Director, and Sullivan, who also is a Mahtomedi student resource officer, shared similar sentiments about the value of growing girls flag football in Minnesota.

"I've seen incredible growth in these girls. I mean, they just keep getting better and better," Donovan said. "Everything we've done, they respond and succeed. And [being here at TCO Performance Center] makes this extra special. Being able to have the Vikings help, supporting financially and in every other way, makes it super special — and I know that's what will help the sport succeed in the long run.

"Football is for everyone," added Donovan, a USA Football master trainer. "We know football is for everyone. These girls are showing this is high-level football out here."

Sullivan shared a personal anecdote to reiterate the importance of making football inclusive.

"When I was in middle school, there was a girl who played on our tackle football team, Mary, and she was phenomenal. She belonged then," Sullivan said. "There's always been this hesitancy to football with a lot of our girls … where a lot of them don't want to get out there because they're nervous [or they've previously felt excluded], but they belong. This league, and all its success, it shows that this sport is meant for them."

Sullivan smiled, then added:

"It's only going to grow even more. Next year we're hoping to double, and I think it will, because there are a lot of girls even at the middle school level who want to play. It's churning up interest across the state, and it's pretty amazing."

The Vikings support schools in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa interested in starting a team through financial assistance, promotional support, coaching resources, opportunities for experiential benefits, and more. If your local high school is interested in learning more, please send an email to Joe Rush, Director of Youth and High School Football (rushj@vikings.nfl.net) and Emily Weinberg, Youth and High School Football Coordinator (weinberge@vikings.nfl.net) for further information. For latest updates on the sport locally, please go to vikings.com/girlsflag.