In their inaugural game on Aug. 28, the Naperville Central girls flag football team made a statement with a 19-6 win over Rosary, powered by a strong defensive performance and big plays on both sides of the ball.

It did not take long for the Redhawks to find their rhythm. On the very first play of the game, senior Malia Shen intercepted a pass and returned it for a pick-six, putting Naperville Central ahead early.

“That felt so great,” Shen said. “I credit a lot of my defensive tactics to my teammates, they taught me really well.”

The momentum continued into the second quarter when Sophomore Liz Delbosque found the end zone at the 6:29 mark, extending the Redhawks’ lead. Shen struck again before halftime with another interception, followed shortly by a pick from junior Maya Stohner, powering the team’s defense.

Rosary managed to break through midway through the third quarter, scoring with seven minutes left to cut the deficit to 12-6. But the Redhawks quickly responded, and Shen recorded her second touchdown of the game. Sophomore Rosena Mazza added the extra point to stretch the lead to 19-6.

In the fourth quarter, Shen capped her dominant outing with a third interception, while Mazza added two sacks to seal the game.

As the clock ran out, the Redhawks walked away with a 19-6 win in their first-ever game, marking a historic and impressive start to the program.

“I’m excited to get back to practice, to get better, and then to play more games this season,” said assistant coach Maria Connell.

The win sparked excitement among the players, who shared their coach’s confidence about the season ahead.

“Naperville Central is not a team to be slept on, coming out with this first win, we might shock other people, this being our first year, but I think we’re going to surprise some people,” Shen said.