By Rich Chrampanis
Some of the most respected names in Shore Conference football circles, like Middletown South head coach Steve Antonucci and Shore Regional’s Mark Constantino, championed girls flag football last spring. The experiment, has the support of the New York Giants, continues to flourish in year two. While it is not recognized as an official varsity sport, season two of the Shore Conference girls flag football league is underway with new teams in the mix and increasing interest, not only in our area but statewide.
Last year Shore Regional, Middletown North, Middletown South, Holmdel and Mater Dei Prep all fielded teams. Those five schools return for year two along with Trinity Hall and Henry Hudson fielding teams for the first time. In all, the Shore Conference has 10 girls flag football teams.
The Giants hosted a clinic featuring Eli Manning for the Shore’s girls flag football teams at MetLife Stadium last weekend; the New York Jets have over 40 teams in North Jersey following a similar model. It’s a sign that it might not be long before flag football could become a sanctioned spring sport, playing for more than bragging rights. In the short term, the female version of American football continues to develop along with interest in the sport. With the first week of games in the books, here’s a look at the schedule for the rest of the season.
2022 Shore Conference Flag Football Schedule
All games are at 6 p.m.
Week 2
April 12
Holmdel vs. Trinity Hall at Raritan High School
Middletown South at Raritan
Mater Dei Prep at Shore Regional
April 14
Middletown North at Matawan
Henry Hudson vs. Pinelands at Matawan
Week 3
April 26
Middletown North at Matawan
Shore Regional vs. Raritan at Matawan High School
April 28
Mater Dei Prep at Pinelands
Middletown South at Holmdel
Trinity Hall vs. Middletown North at Holmdel High School
Week 4
May 2
Mater Dei Prep at Matawan
May 3
Raritan at Middletown North
May 5
Holmdel at Shore Regional
Middletown North at Middletown South
Trinity Hall vs. Pinelands at Middletown South
Week 5
May 10
Shore Regional vs. Middletown North at Raritan High School
Trinity Hall vs. Henry Hudson at Mater Dei Prep
Middletown South at Mater Dei Prep
May 12
Holmdel at Pinelands
Week 6
May 17
Pinelands at Middletown North
Middletown South vs. Trinity Hall at Middletown North
May 18
Shore Regional at Matawan
Holmdel vs. Mater Dei Prep at Matawan High School
May 19
Henry Hudson at Raritan
Week 7
May 24
Middletown South at Raritan
Trinity Hall vs. Matawan at Raritan High School
May 25
Henry Hudson at Mater Dei Prep
May 26
Pinelands at Shore Regional
Middletown North vs. Holmdel at Shore Regional High School
Week 8
May 31
Middletown North vs. Mater Dei Prep at Pinelands High School
Henry Hudson at Holmdel
Trinity Hall vs. Matawan at Holmdel High School
Shore Regional at Middletown South
The article originally appeared in the April 7 – 13, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.