Flag football is probably something you've heard of or even played in a gym class, a childhood game where instead of tackling, you just simply rip a flag off of a belt. In this year, for the first time ever, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association is holding a state tournament. And at the forefront of that is the Owego Free Academy River Hawks, our Amphenol Team of the Week, who sit two wins away from hoisting a state championship

For the River Hawks, their excitement is measured this way.

"Out of 10, it's 100," said junior cornerback Lexi Herceg. "I think we're all super, super excited. This is the goal from the beginning. Obviously to make it to the Final Four is just such an honor. So we're all super excited to continue working hard in practice these next few days to get ready."

The best of the best from Owego Free Academy and matching up like an all-star team.

"This group of girls, I know we've played together in other sports, but since the school like has allowed us to play two sports, like we're taking all the best athletes from all the different sports and coming together," said senior safety Taylor Dalton. "And throughout these past three years, we've really been just taking off with it."

Taking off might be an understatement, Owego lit up boxscores this year with a 15-0 record headlined by a lethal passing attack.

"Quarterback, Kylie [Grippen], she's only a sophomore and she's so good at reading the field," said senior wide receiver and cornerback Alex Aubel. "And yeah, we're all able to catch and run. So just always being ready to get the ball."

And that type of readiness plays on the defensive end as well, allowing just one offensive score in four playoff games.

"Trust is the most important thing," Dalton said. "If you learn to trust your teammates, as a safety, I learned to trust my corners knowing they can one-on-one someone. And that gives me the opportunity to go make a play somewhere out where needed."

Along with, maybe, a bit of a chip on these river hawks' shoulders...

"They get super frustrated when we hype up other teams," said Owego head coach Rusty Virkler. "They take it personally and have played at a different level in the playoffs. It's shown with our with our results."

Coach Rusty and co. hope those results can continue this weekend against Sayville on Saturday.

"It'd just be such a great opportunity for all of us to have together as a team," senior snapper Ava Brown. "We all just have such a good time together. Our coaches are so great."

If Owego wins on Saturday, they will play either Bishop Kearney or Brewster on Sunday in Cortland.

Owego's game against Sayville on Saturday is scheduled for 2 pm at Cortland High School.

TO NOMINATE AN ATHLETE OR TEAM OF THE WEEK, EMAIL [email protected].