TAMPA, Fla. — Football season is rolling on in Tampa with the Buccaneers Girls Flag Football Preseason Classic. 70 teams and 1,500 athletes will hit the fields on USF's campus.
This Buccaneers preseason event is the largest girls flag football tournament in the nation, with teams representing 17 different counties scheduled to participate – including 25 teams from Hillsborough County and 12 from Pinellas County.
Games will take place on Thursday, March 3 from 2:30–9:00 p.m.; Friday, March 4 from 2:30–9:00 p.m.; and Saturday, March 5 from 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. The full schedule is at the end of this story. The event helps kick off the Florida High School Athletic Association flag football season, which officially begins play on Monday, March 7.
Included in this year’s event are three collegiate flag football programs competing from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) – Thomas University, Warner University, and Webber International – which will take the field on Saturday as part of their regular-season schedules.
"It's incredible," said Bucs co-owner Darcie Glazer Kassewitz. "We spend so much time telling girls they can do it. Football is for them. We are in the fourth year of this program, and we couldn't be more proud."
Bucs offensive lineman Donovan Smith and Tristan Wirfs were on hand Thursday to take in a full afternoon of football.
"To be able to see them compete, have fun. It’s just a blessing," Smith said. "Growing up with a house full of women, and I have my own baby girl now, with my lady. It’s just amazing to be here and share this opportunity and amazing moment with them. Shout out to all them out there going to compete."
Wirfs is an Iowa native, and he said they didn't have tournaments like this where he grew up.
"I’ve never been a part of something like this. So, it’s awesome to see that," he said. "I think as time goes on there will be more and more inclusive things. And they’re going to become more popular around the country. They’re kinda like the stepping stone for girls' sports, and it’s awesome."
The FHSAA flag football season kicks off on March 7.
SCHEDULE:
Friday, Mar. 4
2:30 p.m.
- Tampa Alonso vs. Bradenton Southeast (Field 1)
- Tampa Carrollwood Day vs. Tarpon Springs (Field 2)
- St. Petersburg Hollins vs. Tampa Blake (Field 3)
- Lutz Steinbrenner vs. Palmetto (Field 4)
3:45 p.m.
- Tampa Alonso vs. Palm Harbor University (Field 1)
- Lutz Steinbrenner vs. Bradenton Braden River (Field 2)
- St. Petersburg Hollins vs. Tampa Carrollwood Day (Field 3)
- Seminole (Seminole) vs. Palmetto (Field 4)
5:15 p.m.
- Tampa Hillsborough vs. Bradenton Southeast (Field 1)
- Tampa Gaither vs. Gibsonton East Bay (Field 2)
- Riverview Sumner vs. Kissimmee Liberty (Field 3)
- Tampa Blake vs. Tarpon Springs (Field 4)
6:30 p.m.
- Largo Pinellas Park vs. Valrico Bloomingdale (Field 1)
- West Palm Beach Forest Hill vs. Braden River (Field 2)
- Riverview Sumner vs. Palm Harbor University (Field 3)
- Seminole (Seminole) vs. Tampa Middleton (Field 4)
7:45 p.m.
- Tampa Hillsborough vs. Valrico Bloomingdale (Field 1)
- West Palm Beach Forest Hill vs. Gibsonton East Bay (Field 2)
- Tampa Gaither vs. Kissimmee Liberty (Field 3)
- Largo Pinellas Park vs. Tampa Middleton (Field 4)
Saturday, Mar. 5
9:00 a.m.
- Belleview vs. Seminole Osceola (Field 1)
- Crystal River vs. Dunedin (Field 2)
- Lecanto vs. St. Petersburg Gibbs (Field 3)
- Lithia Newsome vs. Westlake Seminole Ridge (Field 4)
10:15 a.m.
- Belleview vs. Dunedin (Field 1)
- Crystal River vs. Seminole Osceola (Field 2)
- Windermere vs. St. Petersburg Gibbs (Field 3)
- Harmony vs. Plant City Durant (Field 4)
11:30 a.m.
- New Smyrna Beach vs. Windermere (Field 1)
- Tallahassee Lincoln vs. Westlake Seminole Ridge (Field 2)
- Lecanto vs. Tampa Wharton (Field 3)
- Lithia Newsome vs. Miami Edison (Field 4)
12:45 p.m.
- New Smyrna Beach vs. Plant City Durant (Field 1)
- Tallahassee Lincoln vs. Stuart Martin County (Field 2)
- Harmony vs. Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (Field 3)
- Ruskin Lennard vs. Miami Edison (Field 4)
2:00 p.m.
- COLLEGE – Webber International vs. Thomas (Field 1)
- Tampa Wharton vs. Bradenton Lakewood Ranch (Field 2)
- Ruskin Lennard vs. Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (Field 3)
- Miami Central vs. Riverview (Riverview) (Field 4)
4:00 p.m.
- COLLEGE – Warner vs. Thomas (Field 1)
- Fort Pierce Central vs. Ocala Trinity Catholic (Field 2)
- Stuart Martin County vs. Riverview (Riverview) (Field 3)
- Miami Central vs. Tallahassee Godby (Field 4)
6:00 p.m.
- Sebring vs. Port St. Lucie Centennial (Field 1)
- Bradenton Lakewood Ranch vs. Ocala Forest (Field 2)
- St. Petersburg Northeast vs. Pace (Field 3)
- Ocala Trinity Catholic vs. Orlando Freedom (Field 4)
7:15 p.m.
- Sebring vs. Orlando Freedom (Field 1)
- Fort Pierce Central vs. Ocala Forest (Field 2)
- St. Petersburg Northeast vs. Port St. Lucie Centennial (Field 3)
- Tallahassee Godby vs. Pace (Field 4)
