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Americas tops Harmony to win title on celebration day for girls flag football in El Paso
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- Americas tops Harmony to win title on celebration day for girls flag football in El Paso
On the surface level, El Paso's first Region 19 Girls Flag Football Championship was about narrowing 39 teams down to a winner in a season-ending three-day tournament , and Americas filled that bill when it beat Harmony 25-6.
Ultimately, though, the pomp and ceremony percolating all through the SAC2 Thursday night was about much more.
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It was about a celebration of a new women's sport in El Paso and making its pioneers feel special.
Harmony, the winners of the Dallas Cowboys division of Region 19, were led onto the field by the Cowboys' mascot Rowdy, moments before Americas was led on by the Texans ' Toro.
Americas coach Elizabeth Boulden and Hannah McNair celebrate their 25-6 win in the inaugural flag football championship game against Harmony at SAC II on May 22, 2025.
Texans Hall of Famer Andre Johnson , their greatest-ever player, was on hand, as was CEO Cal McNair, his wife/Vice President Hannah McNair and a pair of Texans' cheerleaders.
The Cowboys' manager of youth football development and former star Danny McCray was there to represent Dallas, as well as the team's Hall of Fame Mobile Museum. The Cowboys and Texans each sponsored half the teams in the city, based on a preseason blind draw.
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More than a thousand fans, including NFL star and former Miner Will Hernandez and the UTEP cheerleading squad, filled the stands and the sidelines.
Americas’ Na'Sya Atkins makes a touchdown during the inaugural flag football championship game against Harmony at SAC II on May 22, 2025.
This felt important.
"I always wanted to play football but my dad wouldn't let me because it is a contact sport," said Americas receiver Zaryha Wheeler, who was named league MVP. "Now that I can get to play, I enjoy it a lot.
"I got to meet a Hall of Famer, the Texans cheerleaders, it was great. I hope all the other little girls who want to play football but their parents won't let them because it's a contact sports, I hope they let them play. It was really cool, a great experience."
Americas’ Zaryha Wheeler cheers for her teammates before the inaugural flag football championship game against Harmony at SAC II on May 22, 2025.
That was universally felt at the SAC2.
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"It was amazing," said championship game MVP Na'Sya Atkins, whose juggling end zone catch provided Americas' second touchdown. "I've been waiting for flag football to come around. My (10-year-old) brother plays football and I see how much fun he has.
"This is something new. It brought our team together, it brought my friends together. I made a lot of new friends, the competition was great and it allowed us to push ourselves."
For a half they were pushed by Harmony, which went on a Cinderella run to the championships. That included a victory over Eldorado (the eventual third-place finisher) in a semifinal earlier in the day.
Harmony and Americas are two of the closest schools to the SAC2.
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"As a sophomore it was incredible," said Harmony quarterback Carmen Marquez. "It was my first time playing football in El Paso and I had so much fun with the team. We had so much fun. I can't explain how much fun I had."
Harmony’s Camen Marquez (17) runs the ball during the inaugural flag football championship game against Harmony at SAC II on May 22, 2025.
Fun was supposed to be the point of flag football, and it was.
"From October to now, it's been crazy," Americas coach Elizabeth Boulden said. "We had 80 girls come out at first, then we narrowed it down to 24, 25 kids, then seeing all this — the fans, the cheerleaders, the parents, I hope it keeps going and going and going."
The dreams are big.
Toro, the Houston Texans mascot, and Hannah McNair high five during the inaugural flag football championship game between Americas and Harmony at SAC II on May 22, 2025.
"It's to show we're here to support girls flag all over the state of Texas," McCray said. "What's happening in Region 19 and El Paso is a huge thing. It shows the momentum girls flag has here in the state and hopefully we can get it sanctioned soon by the UIL."
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After Americas' win, Johnson posed for pictures with the team.
"I'm out here to show support for the young ladies playing today, and to wish them my best," he said.
He also gave the players a chance to say they met a Hall of Famer, which was part of a special day all around.
Americas’ Arianna Miranda (10) throws the ball during the inaugural flag football championship game against Harmony at SAC II on May 22, 2025.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Americas wins city flag football title in a celebration of the sport
