CEDAR CITY, Utah (June 17, 2025) - The Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games successfully wrapped up their June 16-17 flag football tournament, presented by the Las Vegas Raiders, marking the first inclusion of girls flag football in its programming. Taking the Southern Utah University Eccles Coliseum field, players paved their way into the history books and kicked off a new generation of sports at the Games.

In the tournament's championship, Southern Range defeated the Mesquite Dawgs 13-6, with the former earning gold and the latter taking silver. Due to their success in pool play, Las Vegas Most Wanted landed the bronze medal. These out-of-state competitors from Nevada solidified their status as the first USG flag football medalists, but the Utah High School Girls Football Association, which proudly represented all of Utah in the tournament, boasts a "first" of its own.

UHSGFA, powered by the Las Vegas Raiders, is the first high school girls flag football team in the state, as flag has yet to become a sanctioned Utah sport. Trailblazing on the field and in their field, these girls represent an expanding Utah flag football community.

"This is a sport that, from a national perspective, is starting to grow," USG Football Coordinator Ryan Hunt explained. "I think Utah's going to catch onto that, and it's going to be exciting. These girls are out here competing, and it's been fun to watch."

In addition to exciting games, the event also offered a first look at the National Federation of State High School Associations' new rules governing flag football. For players and coaches, this means an extra opportunity to adapt play style and strategy. Meanwhile, for referees, it presents an early chance to practice officiating before the upcoming season.

"This is priceless. We'll be able to get the state-of-the-art rules down before anybody gets a chance to do them and understand them," referee coordinator Gary Reed stated. "It'll help us make adjustments to make the game make more sense. And, just being able to get the grass time is priceless."

Reed expects the NFHS rules to change the game of flag football permanently, increasing scoring and providing more freedom for athletes to showcase their athleticism. He also anticipates the changes to usher in an era of dual-threat and scrambler quarterbacks.

Regardless of the impact of new rules on the way the game is played, flag football's growth in both the region and nation has been apparent.

Raiders Senior Director of Football Development Myles Hayes, who helped in presenting athletes and coaches with their medals upon the event's conclusion, shared, "We wanted to be part of this event to see the growth of football in general in our region, between Nevada and Utah, but more importantly, girls flag football is booming, and we wanted to be a part of the inaugural year for the sport here."

Up Next

Teams and individuals interested in registering for any of the remaining events on the 2025 schedule can sign up at utahsummergames.org.