In a first for the state of Indiana, Penn High School was crowned as the 2025 High School Girls Flag Football State Champions, the Indianapolis Colts celebrated today.
Penn defeated Lawrence North in the championship game, 35-12, at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Ind. on Saturday evening.
Penn finishes the season 13-0, defeating Terre Haute South, Fort Wayne Snider and Lawrence North in the playoffs on the way to the state's inaugural championship. Head Coach Jerimiah Maggart's Penn team averaged 42 points per game, while allowing just four points per game on defense.
Penn will be honored at halftime of the Colts-Tennessee Titans game on Oct. 26. Find tickets now on Ticketmaster.com
Over the past several years, the Colts have led the effort to develop girls flag as a sanctioned high school sport in Indiana.
- They created the Colts Girls High School Flag Football League in 2023 with eight teams.
- In 2024, the league expanded to 27 teams, qualifying girls flag to be an "emerging sport." To become eligible as a sanctioned sport, 100 schools must compete while in emerging sport status.
- To reach this goal, the Colts launched the "Road to 100" with a $1 million investment to support and sustain the launch of 100 high school teams. To help offset startup costs – which typically range from $5,000 to $8,000 for equipment, uniforms, training and coaching stipends –the Colts invested up to $10,000 in each school that joined the Road to 100.
- In 2025, 78 teams competed in regular season action, with eight teams advancing from sectional tournaments to the first-ever State Finals earlier today.
- The Colts also were the first NFL club to offer free training for current and aspiring girls flag officials. In collaboration with RefReps, the Colts purchased the edtech platform and sports officiating curriculum for 500 officials to help elevate player safety, game quality and opportunity.
- Schools and communities interested in fielding a team in 2026 may visit Colts.com/GirlsFlag.
Colts Girls Flag Football is fueled by Gatorade and sponsored in part by Peyton Manning Children's Hospital. The Colts have prioritized flag football as a way to introduce the game to new players and fans, especially girls, who traditionally have not had the same opportunities to learn and play the game as boys.
