Armed with one of San Diego County's most dynamic quarterback-receiver combinations,
San Marcos (Calif.) enters the inaugural MaxPreps Flag Football Showdown next week looking to break through against a national-caliber field.
The Flag Football Showdown is scheduled for Sept. 11-12 at the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. Several of the Golden State's top teams will be joined by state champions from Alabama and Montana.
Under head coach Gary Keeton, San Marcos finished 13-10 last season before suffering a heartbreaking loss in the San Diego Section Division 2 semifinals. While the record may not stand out alongside some of the tournament's heavyweights, the Knights faced one of the toughest schedules in California, including four games against fellow MaxPreps Flag Football Showdown participants.
Finlee Hovis accounted for 61 total touchdowns last year for San Marcos, which is one of 18 teams in the field for the inaugural MaxPreps Flag Football Showdown on Sept. 11-12. (PHOTO: Mark Leingang)
"We started out hot, won our first three or four games, and then we hit a
rut mid-season," Keeton said. "Then we got hot when we started getting toward playoff
time. I think we won our last six games in a row before playoffs. We
just made a really good run at it, got to the semifinals in D2, just
grew tremendously throughout the year."
Junior quarterback
Finlee Hovis returns after accounting for 61 total touchdowns, throwing for 2,908 yards and 51 scores while adding 781 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Junior
Miyah Holmes headlines a talented supporting cast after compiling 1,744 yards from scrimmage, 32 total touchdowns and a team-high nine interceptions. Sophomore
Sydney Bentle emerged as another two-way standout with 662 receiving yards, 87 flag pulls and eight interceptions.
The Knights also boast a disruptive defense led by juniors
Brielle Johnson and
Danielle Ekereke along with senior
Sam Shelton. Johnson totaled 68 flag pulls and 20 sacks, Ekereke added 26 sacks and Shelton recorded 107 flag pulls and nine interceptions to anchor one of the area's most aggressive units.
Incoming transfer
Teagan Thomas should provide another defensive punch for the Knights.
After navigating a demanding schedule and gaining valuable experience against elite competition, San Marcos has the pieces to challenge some of the nation's top programs in Chula Vista.
"I'm just excited for our girls competing against the highest level of competition and just growing our standard at San Marcos High School for girls flag football," Keeton said.
