Daisy Throckmorton of McClatchy headlines California’s All-State Flag Football Team

Daisy Throckmorton of McClatchy (Sacramento) headlines the inaugural California MaxPreps All-State Flag Football Team.

The Golden State proved there's no shortage of talent on the flag football scene with 12 teams in the final national Top 25 rankings. While girls flag football has only been a sanctioned sport in the state since 2023, the popularity of the sport has grown tremendously.

According to the 2025 California Interscholastic Federation high school sports participation census, flag football was the fastest-growing sport for boys or girls with a reported 19,921 participants in 2024 (an 84 percent increase from 2023).

Read on for the MaxPreps California Players of the Year, followed by first-, second- and third-team All-State players, regardless of position.

CALIFORNIA PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Daisy Throckmorton, McClatchy (Sacramento), QB
A section champion on the hardwood last February, the senior added a flag football title to her resume in the fall with five TD passes in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship game. Throckmorton threw for 7,934 yards with 112 touchdowns and ran for 1,149 yards with 11 more scores on the ground. She accumulated 230 passing TDs and more than 18,600 total yards in leading McClatchy to a 51-7 record over her two-year varsity career. A multi-sport athlete, she also competed on the Lions' tackle football team as the first female quarterback in program history. 

JUNIOR OF THE YEAR
Makena Cook, Orange Lutheran (Orange), QB
Tied for the state lead with 112 passing touchdowns this year while completing 74 percent of her passes for 7,083 yards, an average of 283.3 per game. The Lancers' only three losses came against JSerra Catholic, the nation's No. 1 team at season's end. Orange Lutheran won its first 18 games of the season and finished as the No. 2 team in the country as Cook threw for 370 yards and three touchdowns in the Southern Section Division 1 final.

SOPHOMORE OF THE YEAR
Azul Trujillo, Vincent Memorial (Calexico), QB
Broke the national single-season records for passing yards (9,503) and total yards (9,807). She has 14,297 passing yards for her young career and also helped her teammate, Jessica Manriquez, set a single-season receiving record. Trujillo also tossed 112 touchdowns and helped the Scots finish on an eight-game win streak capped by the San Diego Section Division II championship. She went 31 for 36 for 376 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions in the final.

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Ava Irwin, JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), WR/DB
One of the most impactful players on the best team in the country, Irwin was the top receiving target for the Lions with 158 catches, 1,783 yards and 25 touchdowns. She also recorded 89 tackles and 14 interceptions, helping JSerra Catholic to a perfect 28-0 record.

Mirella Barron, Imperial, Sr.
Led the Tigers to the San Diego Section Division II title game with 7,876 passing yards and 88 touchdowns. Her 9,062 total yards were fourth-most in the country.

Emma Coronado, Kimball (Tracy), Sr.
second in the nation with 8,079 passing yards and had 93 TD passes for the 24-3 Jaguars. She compiled 14,715 air yards for her career.

Madi Lam, Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), Sr.
All over the field with 5,659 yards and 68 TDs passing, 856 yards and 16 TDs rushing along with 123 tackles and eight interceptions on defense.

Antonia Lejarde, Merced, Jr.
Improved on her previous season's all-purpose yardage by nearly 3,500 yards. She accounted for 128 offensive touchdowns and helped the Bears to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II title.

Jessica Manriquez, Vincent Memorial, Jr.
Broke the single-season record with 3,702 receiving yards. She pulled in 43 touchdowns and had eight pick-6s for the Division II San Diego Section champions.

Kate Meier, JSerra Catholic, Fr.
One half of an efficient QB combo for the top team in the country. Meier had 3,552 passing yards with 55 TDs.

Roxie Shaia, Huntington Beach, Jr.
The Oilers finished as the No. 5 team in the country behind Shaia's 6,692 passing yards and 89 touchdown tosses.

Mya Rei Smith, Camarillo, Sr.
Passed for 3,352 yards with 61 touchdowns and also ran for 1,160 and 17 TDs. She also got it done on defense with 100 tackles and 16 interceptions.

Vyanna Ta, Mira Mesa (San Diego), Jr.
Compiled 2,294 passing yards and 2,084 rushing yards with more than 50 touchdowns for the San Diego Section Division III champs.

Ava Van Heerde, JSerra Catholic, So.
The other half of the dynamic QB duo for the 28-0 Lions. Van Heerde had 3,265 passing yards and 44 TDs for the Southern Section Division I champs.

Livier Andrade, Panorama (Panorama City), Sr.
A weapon on offense and defense for the 27-2 Pythons with 2,837 yards and 46 touchdowns receiving, 957 yards rushing, 184 tackles, 45 sacks and 16 interceptions.

Gabriella Devlin, Christian Brothers (Sacramento), Jr.
A two-time section champion who can play almost any position for the Falcons. She tallied 1,789 receiving yards and 27 TDs along with nine pick-6s.

Savanna Hill, McClatchy, Jr.
A speed demon and a huge piece to the Lions' section championship run on both sides of the ball. Hill had 2,081 receiving yards with 39 TDs along with 144 tackles and 74 sacks.

Saielle Howard, Inglewood, Sr.
Made a stamp as a pass rusher with 96 sacks, which was second in the state, to go along with 134 tackles and four interceptions. She also had 1,436 receiving yards with 16 TDs.

Kacey Hurley, Dos Pueblos (Goleta), Sr.
Closed her career with 4,709 yards and 84 TDs passing, adding 872 yards and four scores rushing for a team whose only losses came against top-10 California teams.

Elia Kudemus, Saint Mary's (Albany), Sr.
Her 55 total touchdowns, which included six interception returns, made her one of the most feared athletes in the North Coast Section. The Panthers were 20-0 heading into the NCS semifinals.

Kate Myers, Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove), Sr.
Did it all for the Eagles with 2,793 passing yards, 1,692 rushing yards and 77 total offensive touchdowns. She also posted 31 tackles and 12 picks.

Ava Ortman, Ventura, Sr.
One of five QBs in the state with at least 100 touchdown passes, Ortman tallied 7,292 passing yards for the 20-9 Cougars. She finished her career with 18,115 passing yards and 258 touchdowns.

Aubrey Tibayan, Olympian (Chula Vista), Sr.
One of the most balanced offensive producers, Tibayan had 2,186 receiving yards, 1,055 rushing yards, 542 passing yards and 45 total TDs for the San Diego Section Division V champs.

The newcomer provided 1,747 receiving yards with 31 scores for the No. 2 team in the nation.

Yaretzy Evidarte, Norte Vista (Riverside), Sr.
Led the nation with 321 flag pulls – over 100 tackles more than the next-best tackler in the country.

Xitlalli Fregoso, Shadow Hills (Indio), Sr.
The only player in the state with at least 40 touchdown receptions and 20 interceptions on defense.

Madeline Garcia, Downey, So.
Had a breakout season with 6,859 yards and 74 TDs through the air and 939 yards and 18 scores on the ground.In a pass-happy state, Jimenez led all California rushers with 2,466 yards to go with her 32 touchdowns.

Taylor Savage, Huntington Beach, Sr.
A receiver in the state for a top five team in the country with 2,403 yards and 29 touchdowns. She also threw in 17 sacks as a pass rusher.

Averie Steverson, Merced, Jr.
One of the top playmakers for the SJS Division II champion Bears. Steverson had 2,378 receiving yards and 32 TDs and had seven interceptions on the defensive end.

Alyssa Stoner, Upland, Sr.
Her 2,464 rushing yards were fourth-best in the nation. Stoner added 25 ground scores for the 21-7 Scots.