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INGLEWOOD, Calif., Oct. 9 - Senior linebacker and wide receiver
Elle McCrimmon of
St. Mary's Academy (Inglewood, Calif.) is the USA Football/MaxPreps Girls High School Flag Football Player of the Week for Sept. 29–Oct. 5. McCrimmon and the Belles went 2-0 during the week, outscoring opponents 48-12.
St. Mary's Academy defeated St. Anthony 20-12 on Sept. 29 followed by a 28-0 shutout against Peninsula on Sept. 30. McCrimmon logged double-digit sacks in both games, in addition to breaking up eight total passes.
This season, McCrimmon leads St. Mary's Academy with 182 flag pulls and 98 sacks. She is averaging more than a dozen flag pulls and over half a dozen sacks per game.
Notable stats for McCrimmon:
* Totaled 25 sacks across two games from Sept. 29–Oct. 5.
* Broke up five passes against St. Anthony and three against Peninsula.
* Contributed 38 total tackles in the two wins.
As the Player of the Week, McCrimmon will receive a complimentary opportunity to be further evaluated through USA Football's National Team Development Program at a Talent ID Camp in the fall or spring. The development program is part of the premier pathway to Team USA Football®, which represents our country in international competitions such as the Junior International Cup, World Championships and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Athletes who attend the National Team Development Program's Talent ID Camp are eligible to receive invitations to future U.S. National Teams Trials within their age classification.
As football's official National Governing Body, USA Football oversees all aspects of American football in the U.S. This includes selecting, training and leading Team USA Football in both tackle and flag football for international competitions, including the 2028 Olympics. USA Football partnered with MaxPreps to start the Girls High School Flag Football Player of the Week award and continue to bring attention to the exploding popularity of flag football throughout the country.
USA Football and MaxPreps will announce award winners during the fall and spring high school girls' flag football seasons based on game statistics entered by coaches into MaxPreps.
This award celebrates the achievements of the athletes who are helping to drive flag football at the high school level. USA Football research shows more than 1.7 million athletes ages 6-17 played the sport in 2024, representing a 37% increase in participation over the past decade. Much of that growth is being driven by girls and women. Participation among girls ages 6-12 increased by approximately 283% from 2015 to 2024.
Opportunities for girls and women to play flag football competitively for high school and college programs are increasing. Sixteen states sanction girls' flag football as a varsity sport for current or future seasons. Women's flag football at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) level features college scholarships and a national championship.
Fall 2025 Flag Football Winners:
About USA Football:
USA Football is the National Governing Body (NGB) for American Football in the United States and the sole U.S. member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), the international governing body for the sport of American football. USA Football selects, trains and leads Team USA Football in tackle and flag football disciplines, while delivering world-class football development resources, sport standards and competitive opportunities to empower athletes at every level. USA Football is committed to ensuring every athlete has access to develop and compete in the game through safer, inclusive and innovative pathways. For more information, visit usafootball.com.
About MaxPreps:
MaxPreps is the nation's leading high school sports destination, offering fans the most comprehensive coverage with the latest scores, statistics, news, rankings, photos, and more. MaxPreps aspires to cover every high school team, game and player by partnering with more than 100,000 coaches throughout the country. A PlayOn Sports property, MaxPreps was founded in August 2002. For more information about MaxPreps, please visit www.maxpreps.com.
