St. Martin hosts jamboree as girls flag football continues to grow across Mississippi Coast in second season
ST. MARTIN, Miss. (WXXV) — It’s one of the fastest growing sports in the Magnolia State, and that’s especially true in South Mississippi.
Girls flag football is taking the entire Coast by storm, and the new year kicked off on Wednesday with a jamboree to introduce new players to the gridiron.
“I think it’s a big move for women’s sports in general,” first-year Pascagoula player Yasmine said. “I just love seeing the game grow, and I’m happy everybody gets to experience what we can do.”
As hundreds of girls across South Mississippi lace up their cleats and tie on their flags, it’s evident that the second season of the sport has only helped it grow in popularity.
12 teams competed statewide in 2025, but that number has now jumped to 48.
“Well, I play football for our high school, so seeing more girls get involved in football is just really awesome, and it’s always been something that I’ve wanted, and I just think it’s really cool,” Vancleave’s Jordyn Hoda Raynor said.
“It’s fun seeing all the younger girls being able to grow up with football,” Bulldogs teammate Jillian Woods said. “They could play backyard football all they want, but now they can actually come and play a sport.”
Wednesday night lights couldn’t have been brighter at St. Martin, where the reigning-champion Lady Yellowjackets welcomed seven teams from the area: veteran programs East Central, George County, Vancleave and Picayune, as well as newcomers Biloxi, Pascagoula and Gautier.
As shared by some Panthers student-athletes, the addition of a new sport at their school is a thrilling opportunity.
“I don’t know, it’s just something different and fun that we can play,” Asante explained.
“It is different and I feel like we’ve put in a lot of work, and we’re just ready to show everybody what we’re about,” teammate Whitney added.
It’s equally exciting to veterans who played last season as they look to face new competition.
“I think it’s more of a challenge, and I’m excited, and especially the feeling it gave me… I’m excited to see how it gives other girls the same excitement to come out here and just have fun,” St. Martin’s Olivia Umanzor said.
“I’m excited to play good teams, cause you don’t know what they have in store, so they can have a whole bunch of new plays and everything,” fellow Lady Yellowjacket Brianne Sanders added. “It’s just like a mystery, like, you just have to play good.”
Other Mississippi Coast teams competing this season include D’Iberville, Harrison Central and West Harrison. The teams will be split across regions eight and nine, with regional teams playing each other throughout the year. The regular season starts on March 26th, and it all ends with a 16-team tournament beginning in late April that will ultimately crown a state champion.
