Windham’s Card leads team to All-Star Flag Football win

Windham junior Kiley Card showing off her ring
and team trophy after her All-Star team
won the Maine Girls Flag Football All-Star game.
PHOTO BY CINDY RUSSELL PHOTOGRAPHY

By Matt Pascarella 

 Windham junior Kiley Card has been playing flag football for six years. She originally wanted to play tackle football, but a girls’ team wasn’t available, so she joined the Maine Girls Flag Football league. She was selected to play on the All-Star team, and her team won the All-Star game at Deering High School in Portland on Saturday, Nov. 1, with a score of 27-21.

“I love the adrenaline rush from flag football,” said Card. “There’s constant pressure on you as a quarterback. I also like playing safety on defense and hearing the crowd get so excited when I intercept the ball. The friends that I’ve made from playing in this league is the best part of it all. It feels good to win altogether, as a team. They are a big part of what keeps me coming back. They make it fun.”

In 2020 the Maine Girls Flag Football league was formed. In the fall of 2022, they had 14 teams. They currently have over 160 girls spread over three divisions: elementary, middle and high school. 

The All-Star teams are a combination of girls selected from various teams from the regular season. 

Coaches vote to nominate players; two teams are created per division. The All-Stars play a championship game putting the best of the league head-to-head. 

“I drafted Kiley the year she became a freshman as I am a high school division coach,” said Card’s regular season Maine Girls Flag Football coach Ryan Campbell. “I got very lucky in the draft because the year prior, Kiley was the MVP of the middle school division. Kiley is one of the best players on the field as she can play all positions and at the highest caliber. She is a wonderful teammate and really bonds and connects with everyone around her. Kiley is the field general. She not only has to perform the play that I call into her but has to ensure her teammates are in their spots and ready and has to pull off the play successfully. Her natural athletic skills mixed with tenacity to win is the perfect combination.”

Card’s team was down at the half but fought their way back and tied the game with three minutes left. Card executed a flawless drive to put her team ahead and get the ‘W.’

“In my brief time, one-week period with her, she’s a strong competitor. Selfless teammate and has all of the tools to be a very good quarterback; very polished footwork and throwing mechanics,” said All-Star coach Andrew Fischer.

Card is also a star softball and basketball player and has been throwing a ball her entire life. Flag football gave her the confidence to go out and become a quarterback. 

“I can read where the football is headed and intercept the play because I have experience tracking pop flies,” said Card. “In basketball, which I’ve been playing since the age of 5, I read the offense’s body language and watch their eyes so that I’m able to steal the ball, in the same way that I watch a quarterback when I’m on defense playing football.”

Card would like to play flag football next year and continuing playing in college.

“I was proud of myself,” said Card. “Getting a championship ring is something that I’ve wanted for years.” <