Central Christian Has Found Success in Girls Flag Football

https://bendbulletin.com/2026/04/17/tiny-central-christian-has-found-success-in-girls-flag-football/

Central Christian has found success in girls flag football

Published 11:31 am Friday, April 17, 2026

By Brian Rathbone

REDMOND — Central Christian, Redmond’s private school, does not have a track, golf or tennis team, or any other spring sport for that matter.

But in less than two years the school has developed an emerging girls flag football team that has a possibility to become a permanent spring sport.

Flag football, as it turns out, is a popular sport for Central Christian. The Class 1A school of about 70 high school students has fielded an 18-player team to play in the the OSAA’s newest emerging activity. Not only is it popular, but the Tigers are really good.

“We came into the year hopeful because we were so surprised on how far we went last year,” said junior Bella Norrie. “But we are still pretty surprised by how we bounced back from last year and built on what we had built from last year. We didn’t really have to relearn anything.”

In its second season, Central Christian is the only 1A team in Oregon playing flag football this spring — and it started the season off with six consecutive wins.

After a playoff appearance a season ago, the Tigers have defeated teams in much higher classifications, including Bend High, Madras, Summit, The Dalles, McNary and Marist Catholic.

“I just feel like there are a bunch of cool dynamics of flag football,” Norrie said. “It has been a cool opportunity for us because it is such a new sport and new season.”

The Tigers won all six of the games by an average of nearly 28 points. But they suffered their first loss of the season on Thursday on the road against 6A Gresham. 

“We knew that with all these big schools coming in that it was going to be harder and that everyone was going to get better,” said Central Christian co-coach Matt McCaw. “But we were hopeful with everyone returning we would be competitive. And it has been a great season so far. The girls have picked up where they left off and are playing really well.”

The second year of having a program has been a benefit for Central Christian, as it brought back the majority of its team and did not have to relearn the rules or how to play the game.

“Since we got to have a feel for what flag football was as a sport last year, we came into the year a lot more experienced,” said junior Elsie Graham. “It has been incredible to see how far we have come and how far we can go in the future.”

It’s a family affair for the Tigers, as three sets of sisters make up nearly half the team.

In the McCaw family, there is the coach along with four sisters — junior Delaney, sophomore Jacky and freshmen Emma and Molly. Then there is the Graham family of Elsie and freshman Isla, along with Taylor Graham as the team’s co-coach, and the Terry family of senior Tabitha and junior Joslynn.

“I really enjoy playing with all my siblings,” Delaney McCaw said. “It is so much fun after playing a great game I get to go home and talk about it with my dad and my sisters for the next hour. It just brings us closer together.”

“Since we go to a small school and since a lot of us are family, it just makes our team really close,” Elsie Graham said.

Flag football is in its second year as an emerging activity and seeking to become a sanctioned sport by the OSAA. Currently, the OSAA’s website lists 61 teams, which is well above the 50-team threshold needed to become officially sanctioned.

However, of the 61 teams listed, 13 of them have played three or fewer games in the first month of the season, while five of them have yet to play a game.

But optimism remains for girls flag football to follow the same path as boys volleyball did a year ago and become an OSAA-sanctioned sport.

“I think what is going to happen is that it is going to continue to grow,” Matt McCaw said. “Almost to a girl, the kids who come out and try it, love it.”

Added Delaney McCaw: “I think flag football has a chance to become a big sport here. It is going to be in the Olympics in 2028 and a lot of girls are enjoying it. And for us, it is our only (spring) sport.”

ABOUT BRIAN RATHBONE

Brian Rathbone has been the sports reporter for the Bulletin since 2019. He likes playing basketball, running and spending time with his dog, Rodger. 

He can be reached at 541-668-7538, brian.rathbone@bendbulletin.com, or on X/IG @ByBrianRathbone