Edison Flag Football Turning Heads In First Year

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In only its first year of girls' flag football, Miami Edison's program is already turning heads.

With the sport's increased participation in Miami-Dade County this year from eight private schools to 31 public schools, Edison is already one of the county's top teams.

The Lady Red Raiders are undefeated (6-0) outscoring opponents, 333-6. Earlier this week, the team gave up its first points of the season in its' 54-6 victory over Hebrew Academy.

"They scored on a broken play in the second quarter," said Edison head coach Vince Hall. "I am still thinking about that touchdown.

"We take pride in our shutouts, no disrespect to anybody," Hall said. "We practice hard and have disciplined athletes."

The Lady Red Raiders have dominated every team they have faced with talented, quick athletes, several who play both ways.

"We get a lot of turnovers with interceptions," Hall said. "We run multiple offenses. The girls are so explosive. We can throw and pass."

Ranked 12th in the Class 1A state poll, Edison defeated Coral Reef, 35-0; Krop, 13-0; Hialeah Gardens, 28-0; Monarch, 13-0; Keys Gate, 28-0; Northwestern, 22-0; North Miami Beach, 48-0; Miami Springs, 49-0; and Booker T. Washington, 33-0.

The team also competed in two jamborees. At the Girls 7-on-7 Flag Football Jamboree at the Dolphins Training Camp, the Lady Red Raiders shut out Monarch, 13-0.

"We played a good team, it was a good game," Hall said.

At the Hialeah Gardens Tipoff Jamboree, Edison defeated Coral Reef, 35-0; Krop, 13-0, and Hialeah Gardens, 28-0.

Edison has three regular season games left, Miami Central (April 12), Hialeah (April 14) and Miami High (April 15) before the district playoffs.

"We have a very athletic team with a lot of speed," Hall said. "Most of the athletes are from the basketball and track teams."

Hall has a strong background in coaching flag football. He coaches flag football for the City of Miami Parks and Recreation. He is also on Edison's boys football staff in the fall as wide receivers coach. He won the 7-on-7 national flag football championship with University of South Florida quarterback Quinton Flowers and his son Vincent Hall, a Miami Jackson alum.

"I had the luxury of having some big name players in the county," Hall said.

When Dade County approved flag football for the public schools, Hall was excited. Hall had 25 girls try out. He carries a 15-player roster.

"For the past 10 to 15 years I was always asking why we couldn't have flag football for girls, it was only in Broward County," Hall said. "I always wanted to coach a girls' team. This is good for the girls and girls sports. When our school announced we were having a team the girls were exciting. They asked me when they could start playing and I told them they had to wait until the first official day of practice. They were all in shape when they came out for the team. Coaching girls is different but fun."

The team is led by junior quarterback and safety Jaquala Brown. "She is special because she dominates on both sides of the ball," Hall said. "She throws the ball well and comes up with interception returns."

Against Miami Springs, Brown went 10-for-10 for 125 yards and scored two touchdowns.

The team's defensive leader is freshman outside linebacker Shakeria Cooper.

"The coaching staff put in a lot of work in the pre-season," Hall said. "We did a lot of drills and put in a lot of fundamental work. We did cone drills, watched films, the same way the guys do."

The Lady Red Raiders have their sights set on making the state tournament.

"Once you start coaching and competing, there's only one goal and that's to aim for the top," Hall said. "I know it can be a little difficult with it being our first year. We are going to give it our best and work hard."

"I am very proud of the girls. They really, really, really make my day, make my year with the hard work they have put in to get these kinds of results. After the game, it's a plus to see the smiles on their faces and the swagger they walk around in school with because the girls are the talk around the school. They have bragging rights."

DISTRICT TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

CLASS 2A
District 11: at Deerfield Beach, April 26, 5 p.m., April 28, 6 p.m.
District 12: at Plantation, PAL Field, April 26, 5 p.m., April 27, 6 p.m.
District 13: at Miramar, April 26, 4 p.m., April 28, 6 p.m.

CLASS 1A
District 13: at Archbishop McCarthy, April 26, 4 p.m., April 28, 7 p.m.
District 14: at Hialeah Gardens Senior High, April 26, 3:30 p.m., April 28, 4 p.m.
District 15: at Coral Gables Senior High, April 26, 2 p.m., April 28, 4 p.m.
District 16: at Coral Reef Senior High School, Richmond Middle School, April 25, 3:30 p.m., April 27, 3:30 p.m.

REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS: May 6, semifinals; May 10, finals.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: May 13-14, Tampa Robinson High School