Flag football was introduced in Georgia high schools in 2020, and Midtown has joined the sport’s rising popularity by establishing a program this fall. 

Girls head track coach Joshua Washington saw the lack of a program at Midtown with the growing presence of the sport and took initiative.

“Flag football has been growing tremendously in Georgia the last five years, and a lot of our girls were asking questions about ‘why does Midtown not have a team?’” Washington said. “Essentially, the answer was, if you can generate enough interest to put together a team, then we will look into it.”

Georgia became the fourth state to sanction flag football in the U.S., and now more than 270 high schools throughout Georgia have a program as of 2024. Flag football has seen a push in support nationwide for its inclusivity, promoting gender equity in sports. HR 347 was passed in Georgia in April 2025, the first legislation of its kind in the U.S., urging high schools to introduce a flag football program.

“It’s important because it gives students, especially the girls at Midtown, another opportunity to play a sport that hasn’t traditionally been offered to us,” senior captain Halle Prevost said. “Not everyone feels like soccer, basketball or volleyball is the right fit, so flag football opens the door to more students who want to be active and part of a team.”

The demand for a flag football program was high, with many girls showing interest and 71 girls trying out for the team.

“Coming from Howard, I was excited to continue playing so finding out made me feel disappointed because I’ve been following and loving this sport since the age of 7,” freshman Francine Emmanuel, Howard Middle School’s former quarterback, said. “Knowing the potential we had here at Midtown High made me feel like we needed to have a team.”

The Atlanta Falcons and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation paved the way for flag football in Georgia, partnering to provide grants to help start programs and support existing ones. In 2025, the foundation provided grants to 45 schools, including Midtown.

“We were granted $10,000 [from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation],” Washington said. “I think flag football with or without the grant would have still happened, but I do believe the grant made a significant difference just for the simple fact that when you’re starting a new sport, it’s not something that you can just snap your fingers, and it happens. It takes a lot of resources and that primary resource is financial, so the fact that we have a large starting amount to get started with makes a significant difference.”

Officially introducing flag football to Midtown with the help of the grant has brought new opportunities for girls, building skills used while playing and off the field.

“It’s important because flag football is the fastest-growing sport nationwide,” Emmanuel said. “Many women really love the sport but have never had a chance to get on the field, so this is a great opportunity. Playing flag football can help you build confidence, teamwork and leadership skills that are beneficial both on and off the field. When I play flag football, it makes me feel happy because I’ve found a sport I enjoy playing.” 

Washington, though the program is new, believes that even though most of the girls haven’t played the sport before they have great potential. 

“The difference between our team and other programs is that other flag football programs had maybe three or four girls that were fast or athletic, and we have like 15 to 20,” Washington said. “We have girls that have experience with flag football, and we have girls that aren’t necessarily experienced in flag football, but they’re familiar with sports, and they can adjust and adapt very well and very quickly, so I’m excited”

Emmanuel, coming from the middle school team, has brought flag football experience and has played a big role in guiding the team.

“I’ve been able to use my experience to create an understanding of plays, communicate and keep everyone motivated. It’s been great seeing the team come together and improve. Although I do understand this is a new program and we have work to do, overall we are coming together and having fun. Through my two years of experience, it’s been a roller coaster ride. I made it to the championship in seventh grade and led my team to the championship in eighth grade. I now want to continue where I left off and lead this team to win the championship before I graduate.”

Washington sees his coaching experience, particularly in track, as a source of transferable skills he can bring to flag football as well.

“Track is what I absolutely enjoyed, which is all about running fast, being explosive, and then just being strategic with how you run races and all of that,” Washington said. “That translates really well to flag; it’s the same thing. The best teams that are fast, they’re strategic, and they’re just real disciplined.”

With a quick start, the team is already working towards taking on teams who have competed in previous seasons.

“So far I think the team has been really great,” Prevost said. “The coaches are encouraging and supportive, and everyone is learning together since this is new for Midtown. I was really impressed with the skill level that many players brought to tryouts. As well as the positive energy brought by players, which has made practices fun while still helping us get better.”

The Knights had their inaugural game on Oct. 2, first playing Alcovy then Chapel Hill. The Knights lost to Alcovy 20-0 and Chapel Hill 12-8. Although they lost, they saw success for their first games.

“Even though we lost the games I’m still proud of how we did,” Prevost said. “We got our first touchdown and learned a lot from the experience. It’s only up from here.”

Washington believes the girls are on track with the other teams, even with the team forming later. 

“We have to learn the rules, and we have learned strategies with a pretty quick turnaround,” Washington said. “The great thing about being at Midtown is that our girls are adaptable. Most of them are very athletic; they’re familiar with how sports and athletics work, in general. So, the learning curve won’t be that big, but we will have to get over the fact that we’re just starting behind.”

The Knights have high hopes for their inaugural season.

“I’m proud of what we’ve already been able to accomplish so far. My hopes for the team are that we can grow, learn the game and  build a strong foundation for future seasons.” Prevost said. “I want us to build hype and create a fun and competitive environment where people are excited to come back year after year.”