Western flag football secures first state title, ends long drought for South Florida

Revenge is a dish best served … in Jacksonville.

The Western Wildcats flag football team rallied to defeat Newsome 34-14, winning the Class 2A state final on Saturday afternoon in Jacksonville.

Newsome, which beat Western 20-19 in the 2021 state final, led 14-0 after its first two possessions on Saturday.

“We weren’t in the right head space,” said Western receiver/cornerback Veronica McBride. “We were getting the jitters out.”

Consider the jitters gone.

Western scored 34 consecutive points to finish the season with a perfect 19-0 record.

It was just the third-ever state title won by a Broward team, joining Miramar (2006) and Fort Lauderdale (2003). Miami-Dade County has yet to have a team win a state title in the sport.

“I’m probably not going to give you good quotes – I’m overwhelmed with emotion,” Western coach James O’Brien said. “Our girls dug in. We were too athletic for Newsome.

“Our girls were incredible.”

Sydney Ford, Western’s senior quarterback, made her case as the best player in the state. She passed for three touchdowns and ran for one. She also starred at linebacker.

“She is always great, but she was Superman today,” O’Brien said. “She took it to a new level on both sides of the ball. She was buying time with her legs, making throws. On defense, she was pulling every flag.”

McBride was also huge, catching a TD pass and grabbing a crucial interception. Tamara Elliott threw a TD pass and caught a score, and Nandi Ramessar had two TD receptions.

O’Brien said he wanted to save Elliott’s ability to throw as a second-half surprise. But once Western fell behind 14-0, the Wildcats went to a double pass, and Elliott delivered.

Western trailed 14-12 at halftime, but it would’ve been worse had it not been for McBride’s red-zone interception.

McBride said Newsome’s sideline was taunting Western for most of the game … until the Wildcats silenced them in victory.

“Last year, they were taunting so loud that we couldn’t hear our coach call plays,” McBride said.

“I came to Western (from Stranahan two years ago) to win a state title, and that’s what we did. If feels great. I’m in shock. I almost don’t believe it … except I have a gold medal around my neck to prove it.”

Ford, who said winning the title felt “amazing”, was emotional at game’s end.

“People were jumping on each other,” Ford said. “Some people dropped to the ground. I ran straight to my coach. He has been such an inspiration. He put a lot of work in, and it’s an unbelievable feeling.

“We got our revenge from last year. That was our goal. We didn’t really care who we played … but we were glad it was Newsome.”