photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence running back La'Keyshia Woods runs through tackles in the flag football triangular at Free State on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Lawrence.

Baldwin, Free State and Lawrence competed in their first club girls flag football games at Free State on Wednesday, with each team playing two games.

The games have two 20-minute halves with a running clock until the final two minutes. Teams have four downs to get a first down, which is every 20 yards, regardless of where the first down is. The field is shortened in width by around 5 yards, and the length is shortened to 80 yards. Games are six-on-six with rushing the quarterback.

The Kansas State High School Activities Association does not offer flag football as a sanctioned sport, so the teams are organized as clubs. The NFL, through the Kansas City Chiefs, sponsors teams and provides jerseys, rules and referees for games. Players and coaches have had to learn on the fly.

“We’ve had only five practices, so the fact that we’re all smiles, I feel like, is a big win,” Lawrence coach Marci Leuschen said. “There was a huge difference from when we played Baldwin (to playing Free State). These girls made some adjustments, and I was so proud of these guys for keeping with it and learning.”

Both Lawrence schools brought 25 players to the game. When Leuschen and assistant coach Jeanne Yantzie first organized the team, they hoped for at least seven.

“We just didn’t know because with our first official (practice), we had pretty low numbers,” Yantzie said. “They just flooded in.”

Baldwin started the night with a 39-6 win over Lawrence.

The Bulldogs got the ball first, and after a couple of first downs, Lawrence’s Machin Ramsay intercepted a pass to get the Lions their first drive of the game. The Lions moved the ball a bit, but a turnover on downs ended their first drive.

Baldwin scored their first touchdown with a quarterback run by Emme Nigh, which was set up by a big run from Brooklyn Taylor. After a successful 1-point conversion, the Bulldogs held a 7-0 lead.

Lawrence’s offense continued to have a slow start as Baldwin sacked Ramsay in the end zone for a safety. On Baldwin’s next drive, Nigh lateraled to Taylor for a touchdown, bringing the Bulldogs’ lead to 15 at halftime.

The Lions started with the ball but threw a pick on the first play. The Bulldogs scored on a pass from Nigh to Alyssa Flick, giving the Bulldogs a 21-0 lead.

Sidra Besson scored the first touchdown for the Lions, taking a toss the length of the field. Nigh and Flick followed the drive up with a touchdown throw and catch.

The Bulldogs added two more touchdowns, one by Tatum Hicks and the other by Harper Larson.

Free State took on Baldwin for the second game and beat the Bulldogs 26-14.

The Firebirds scored first with big pass plays from quarterback Quinlyn Vail. Vail threw a 20-yard touchdown to Amelia Lang on the opening drive of the game. The Bulldogs managed a couple of first downs from Taylor, but a third-down interception gave the Firebirds the ball back.

Vail and the Firebirds offense took advantage of the turnover with a second touchdown. On fourth-and-10, Vail threw to Adri Grooms, who sneaked behind the secondary, for a touchdown, giving the home team a 13-0 lead.

Baldwin’s offense bounced back with a touchdown drive late in the first half. Nigh threw a deep pass to Larson, setting up a first-and-goal. The Free State defense held tough for three downs, but on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Nigh sneaked the ball in for a score. Nigh threw to Taylor for the 2-point conversion, bringing the score to 13-8.

Free State scored a third touchdown of the half in only 30 seconds. Vail found Layla Hafoka underneath the defense, and Hafoka ran through the defense for a score.

Baldwin started with the ball in the second half and ran the ball down the field with Nigh and Taylor. Nigh found Hicks for a touchdown, bringing the score to 20-14. Free State’s next drive stalled around midfield, but defensive back Ella Stroh intercepted a pass to prevent the Bulldogs from tying the game.

The Firebirds marched down the field, and Vail hit receiver Sarai Preston for a touchdown, bringing the Free State lead back up to 12 points.

Baldwin started moving the ball but threw another interception, this time to Firebird Sophia Halton. Free State’s next drive drained the clock, and Baldwin ran out of time on the final drive, losing 26-14.

The final game was Lawrence and Free State’s first-ever flag football City Showdown. It was low-scoring, with the Firebirds winning 20-0.

Once the City Showdown rolled around, Lawrence and Free State students came out to support their teams. Free State coach Adam Barmann said the environment was “incredible” for their first games.

“This is a cool opportunity for these girls, for our girls and for all the kids in Kansas,” Barmann said.

Free State got the ball first but stalled on the first drive. The Lions started the march down the field, but Stroh intercepted Ramsay to give the Firebirds the ball back.

Vail and the Free State offense turned the turnover into points, as Vail found receiver Addie Fulscher in the end zone.

Both teams had one more drive each in the first half that ended in punts. Lawrence’s Ginny Besson seemingly had a punt return touchdown, but the play was ruled over at the start of her return.

Lawrence’s first drive after halftime ended in another punt, while Free State scored on their first drive out of the break. Vail found Fulscher again in the end zone, giving Free State a 14-0 lead.

Ramsay led the Lions into Free State’s side of the field, but the Firebirds had back-to-back sacks to bring up a turnover on downs. On the final drive of the game, Vail and Fulscher connected on a third touchdown. Lightning in the area ended the game after the score, and Free State finished 2-0 on the first day of competition.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Baldwin’s Gracie Hildebrand rushes for a tackle for loss in the first flag football triangular at Free State on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Baldwin receiver Alyssa Flick celebrates while running into the end zone in the flag football triangular at Free State on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State coach Adam Barmann talks with his defense in the first flag football triangular at Free State on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State running back Zay Jones runs past midfield in the flag football triangular at Free State on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State quarterback Quinlun Vail escapes pressure in the first flag football triangular at Free State on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Baldwin running back Brooklyn Taylor turns upfield on a run in the flag football triangular at Free State on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence receiver Jada Baars receivers a direct snap in the first flag football triangular at Free State on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

The Lawrence offense looks over a play design in the flag football triangular at Free State on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Lawrence.