APEX Predators raising standards for flag football in Southern Nevada
Las Vegas’ APEX Predators flag football club has set a standard in Southern Nevada, helping grow the sport across the nation since its inception. The Predators, as the Chargers, finished second in the NFL Flag Championships after losing to the Staten Island Giants on Sunday in Canton, Ohio. It was the third straight trip to the championship game for the Predators.
By W.G. RAMIREZ
Coach Todd Thomson and flag football star Maci Joncich had an important conversation before heading to Canton, Ohio for the NFL Flag Championships.
"Even if we win," Thomson told Joncich, "I'm not looking forward to that last walk off the field with you. Because either way, whether we win or lose, it's over with me and you here in this program at this level. And so no matter what we walk off that field together."
The APEX Predators Chargers walked off the field as the runner-up for a third-consecutive season after losing to the Staten Island Giants, 28-7, on Sunday in the 18U title game.
More importantly, they walked off the field as a unit that has helped continue grow the sport in not only Southern Nevada, but in the nation.
"We've kind of built this program together," Thomson said. "Her and Lilly (Mayo) and some of the originals, when we first started it, it wasn't like it is now. The tough part for me was I had a vision in my head. I could see where the girls flag game was going and kind of selling an idea, because it wasn't anything tangible.
"I couldn't say, 'Hey, look, there's a tournament in Vegas this week. There's 20 girls teams going to participate.' It was, 'Hey, I think in a couple years we're going to get to the part where this thing's going to be so massive we can't even wrap our heads around it right now.'"
He was right.
Perspective: when Joncich began playing flag football, it wasn't a sport in college.
Now, in addition to colleges offering scholarships, it's an Olympic sport that will make its debut in Los Angeles in 2028.
Nearly a dozen states recognize flag football as a varsity sport for girls, while scholarships are being offered at the NAIA level.
So, this year's trip to nationals was a bit different, especially considering where it was being held.
Which is why Joncich, who will play flag at the University of Florida this year, embraced the atmosphere in the athlete's village on the makeshift campus at the Football Hall of Fame and couldn't help but show her emotions after her final game in youth flag.
"It was really special, just because you have the big Hall of Fame building and the stadium, and then you have just tons of fields surrounding it," said Joncich via phone conversation Monday night, one day after appearing on ABC in the championship. "It was just a really cool atmosphere. It was cool even just to play in the stadium for the first round of playoffs. I thought that was really special. And to play on ESPN-plus with that game was really cool. And then moving on to Saturday and Sunday, still playing on television was just like something really unforgettable.
Coronado High School graduate Maci Joncich, who will play flag football at the U. of Florida this coming school year, shows emotions after her APEX Predators lost in the NFL Flag Championship on July 21 in Canton, Ohio.
"The whole atmosphere and everything, they really pumped up the game of flag, and made it seem extremely important like it's growing, like it really is. So I think that it was super cool."
Playing without their starting quarterback, Kaylie Phillips, who is still recovering from a foot injury, APEX marched through the competition and arrived in the championship game for a third straight year.
Unfortunately, they ran into a very good Staten Island team that featured the 2023 Flag Football Player of the Year, Allison Gandlin.
After taking an early 7-0 lead when Brooklyn Hill snatched Joncich's dart at the back of the end zone and landed her foot perfectly, small miscues led to APEX's demise the rest of the way.
After forcing a three-and-out, APEX had momentum flowing but on 3rd-and-mid Hill took a low snap from center Brooke Campion, and the Predators were forced to punt. The Giants responded quickly when tournament MVP Valentina Fanetti found Jade Mazziotta from 15 yards out for the Giants' first score, tying the game at 7-7.
"Brooke played a flawless tournament except for that one snap on third down that Brooklin had to go down to catch," Thomson said. "That was her one bad snap the whole tournament. I felt confident we would have scored on that drive. We had them on their heels. And now they get the ball back and then go down and score. So it was big, it changed everything."
Joncich was intercepted on APEX's next possession, and the Giants once again capitalized, taking advantage of defensive pass interference by Jaylani Palmer on what should've been the last play before halftime. Instead, Fanetti found Olivia Rijo for the score, the Giants took a 14-7 lead, and APEX wouldn't recover.
Nevertheless, Thomson said his squad has established itself as one of the most feared programs in the nation, while Joncich and Hill said they feel as if they've provided a road map for younger girls who want to play football during a time women athletes have captivated a global audience.
"It made me feel like there could be somebody out there just kind of watching and feeling inspired a little bit, and getting able to know a little bit more about flag football, a little bit more about how much it has grown," Joncich said. "So I think that that was really special. And playing with my whole team from Vegas, we've been around for many years now, that was really special. And I really felt like I and my team were making a difference, and we're able to inspire others and help the game of flag grow even more."
Added Hill: "I felt very honored to be a part of the building blocks, along with the foundation of what is yet to come. With that being said, it is something that is genuinely going to establish a firm foundation for what they want this sport to be."
Which is why APEX's fans could feel Joncich's tears through the national broadcast, and the team shared one final emotional moment postgame in their locker room.
Thomson and assistant coach Rudy Fernandez cried along with their team, as they told the Predators not to take any regret or second-guessing from Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, but only the pride they should feel for all they've done for the sport.
"It definitely was emotional for me at the end of that," Joncich said. "It's definitely a sense of accomplishment. Especially just because getting to that final game, and playing on live television on ESPN, it allows us to put our name out there and to put the APEX Predator name out there. And that's really something to be thankful for regardless of the outcome."
