Flag football preview: Edison returns star QB in quest for repeat championship

Edison is back for more.

The Red Raiders went 19-1 last season, winning the first state title in program history with a 26-20 victory over Wildwood in the Class 1A championship game.

Edison lost four seniors off that 2025 team, but plenty of talent returns. Senior quarterback Rakyia Louis is the reigning Miami-Dade Player of the Year after she completed 73.2 percent of her passes for 4,715 yards, 79 touchdowns and just nine interceptions.

“She has great pocket awareness,” Edison coach Vincent Hall said. “She can make any throw, deep or short, and she’s cerebral.”

Edison also returns senior wide receiver Malaysia David, who caught 73 passes for 1,002 yards and 18 touchdowns. David, who made first-team All-Dade, also had a team-high nine interceptions and will be used at linebacker and cornerback.

David had knee surgery as a sophomore, and, now, two years later, she’s more explosive than in 2025, according to Hall.

Edison also returns three sophomores who started as freshmen: receiver/cornerback Torri Cotman (47 catches, 693 yards, nine TDs, three interceptions); receiver/linebacker Briana Bogan (44 catches, 593 yards, nine TDs, two interceptions); and rusher Jennifer Burton (team-high 27 sacks).

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• Western (15-5, regional finals) is annually one of South Florida’s top teams. Since 2021, the Wildcats are 84-10, including a state title in 2022. The Wildcats have also won seven straight district titles.

This year, Western will be led by senior Ashley Smith (41 catches, seven for TDs). She has signed to play soccer for Illinois.

The new quarterback is sophomore Brianna Rutecki, a natural leader who can run fast and throw long.

Senior Ryan Stoker added 61 catches, three for TDs. Other standouts include senior cornerback Cherish Huggins; senior wide receiver/safety Maddison Ojeda, who transferred from Pembroke Pines Charter; and sophomore wide receiver/linebacker Catie Molmar .

• Douglas (consecutive 13-2 seasons) reached the regional quarterfinals in 2025 but lost first-team All-Broward quarterback Sam Calavetta as a transfer to St. Thomas Aquinas.

Douglas coach Christian Baldwin, who took over this program with just 13 kids in 2021, isn’t worried, and he’s not mad at Calavetta.

“I’ll never fault a kid for transferring to a private school,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin has reloaded at QB with AnnaBella Puccio, a transfer.

Puccio, who passed for 2,552 yards and 36 touchdowns last year for Western, will get the ball to junior Courtney Heymach, who totaled 820 all-purpose yards and 16 TDs.

Junior Katie Diaz, who produced 15 sacks, is a defensive standout.

In the meantime, Baldwin is thrilled that Douglas flag-football players are starting to earn college scholarships, and that includes Daria Boykin and Morgan Goldman at Alabama State.

• Palmetto (16-4) made it to the state semifinals, losing 7-0 to eventual Class 4A champion Alonso. This year, Palmetto has a new quarterback: junior Danielle Ortega. Others standouts include junior Kiani Graham, a dominant two-way player who also wrestles; senior Takayla Strowbridge, who is a speed receiver and a lockdown corner; and junior Fernanda Moreno, a newcomer.

• Aquinas (16-2, regional finals) will be led by a pair of All-Broward first-team players: Aimee Colson, a junior rusher; and Emmi Merhi, a senior wide receiver. Merhi has signed a volleyball scholarship to play outside hitter for Troy University. Kayla Gomez, a senior center; is a transfer from Pembroke Pines Charter. And, at quarterback, the Raiders have Douglas transfer Sam Calavetta and Sianna Gonzalez, who will attempt to return from knee surgery.

• True North (11-8, regional semifinals) is led by junior wide receivers Alexa Dominguez and Abby Figueroa, as well as sophomore quarterback Lola Perez and freshman wide receiver/cornerback Julianna Romero.

• Southridge (10-7, regional semifinals) will be led by transfer quarterback Aubrey Gisbert, a sophomore. Two returners star at wide receiver: senior Shazaria Williams (56 catches, 585 yards, nine TDs) and junior Zariah Evans (45 catches, 365 yards, 12 TDs). Williams also had 10 interceptions, and she and Evans have college offers.

• Homestead (16-5) made it to the state semifinals, losing 18-7 to Tallahassee Chiles. This season, Homestead will be led by junior wide receiver/defensive back Gernaia Davis (67 catches, two interceptions); sophomore quarterback Angelyn Molina (2,161 passing yards, 20 TDs); and junior rusher Cambria Smith (11 sacks). In addition, Homestead coaches believe wide receiver/defensive back Jordyn Warren is the best freshman in the county.

• Doral Academy (10-3, regional quarterfinals) has a young and athletic team, led by three seniors: wide receiver Jada Izquierda, quarterback Megan McQuinn and wide receiver/cornerback Sophia Koutris.

• Everglades (9-4, district champs) will be led by senior quarterback Leilah Lewin; junior cornerback/receiver Farrah McQueen; and senior running back/rusher Janaiya Tillman. Last year, Lewin completed 61.1 percent of her passes for 1,484 yards, 19 TDs and 14 interceptions.

• Varela (9-4) will be led by senior Chloe Campos (832 scrimmage yards, eight TDs, six interceptions); and juniors Allyson Hernandez (three TDs); Elisa Thompson (team-high 22 sacks); and Giovanna Hernandez (six TDs).

• Braddock (11-5) is led by junior athlete Adriana Junco, senior quarterback Anna Rubiera, senior defensive back Nathalie Velasquez and sophomore athlete Kassie Howard.

• South Dade (2-8) has a new coach, George Sands, who comes over from rival Homestead. South Dade will be led by sophomore all-purpose athlete Mykel Andrews; junior wide receiver/linebacker Zion Davidson; and senior quarterback/linebacker Sariah Bartley

• Flanagan (1-14) will be led by running back/free safety Angelina Quezada, a soccer player who is new to flag. Other players to watch are Soriya Castillo and Gaby Gomez.

This story was originally published February 10, 2026 at 7:00 AM.