CASA GRANDE - The first day of the inaugural flag football season kicked off Thursday night around the state with 25 games taking place with somewhere near 1,000 athletes taking part. Flag football was on the fast track, skipping the “emerging sport” designation by the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s (AIA) Executive Board last December, in response to an obvious need for the sport.

“We’re excited the Executive Board has approved girls flag football as a sanctioned sport. We’ll have a state championship in year No. 1,” said AIA Executive Director David Hines in a statement following the board action. “Our hope is to see fast growth of the sport within the membership.”

A little over 50 athletes benefitted from this action at Casa Grande High School on Thursday with Marana holding on for a 2-0 victory in a game that featured some excellent offensive numbers, but an even more impressive defensive production from both squads, as the final score might dictate.

The swarming defense from Marana resulted in only seven yards on the ground from the Cougars on 21 carries with the biggest blow coming from Marana junior Namie Singer with 49 second left in the first quarter. Singer was able to avoid contact at the line and she caught Sarah Mountz in the end zone for a safety and a 2-0 lead that would somehow hold up the rest of the way.

Mountz, Kayla Tacker and Lynisee Armstrong provided most of the offense for the Cougars but it took a strong secondary defense to stop the high-powered Tiger offense. Roxi Singer threw for 95 yards, and she rushed for 59 more, but the Cougars were able to stop four drives on the strength of four interceptions deep down the field. Armstrong, Andrea Monguia, Tacker and Jazmin Salinas came up with the four picks but the arm strength displayed by Singer resulted in poor field position for the Cougars after each takeaway.

Besides Singer, Malaysia Roebuck came up big for Marana with 38 yards receiving and an interception of her own. Thais Monson also came up with an interception for Marana and Madison Myers-Rebidas pulled in four receptions for 48 yards.

Despite the outcome, Casa Grande showed sparks of athleticism that head coach Kevin White can build upon.

“I was very pleased with the intensity level on both sides,” White, a former quarterback at Casa Grande and West Virginia, said after the game. “I think it was the first time she's (Mountz) ever played the game and I thought she was really, really good. She wasn't getting protection and I need to figure out how to get that done but I’m pleased with the defense coming up with four interceptions.”

For Marana head coach, Shaun Lara, he has all the weapons he needs and one gets the feeling points will start coming but his defense has already arrived.

Casa Grande will travel to Williams Field (1-0) on Thursday. The Black Hawks beat Canyon View 14-7 Thursday night. Marana will host Westwood (0-1) next Tuesday. The Warriors lost 17-14 to Corona del Sol.

Roxi Singer. (Andy Morales/AZPreps365)