Blue Devil Flag Football Starts to Rise

The Huntington flag football team has taken a major step forward this season, turning last year’s 1–15 record into a competitive 5–8 mark with two games still remaining. The improvement reflects not just better results on the field, but a shift in culture, confidence and commitment throughout the program.

One of the defining moments of the season came during the first annual rivalry game against Walt Whitman. The event brought together strong community support and energy, highlighted by opening remarks from Town Councilwoman Theresa Mari, who spoke about the importance of women in sports and the continued growth of opportunities for female athletes.

“The game symbolized how far the program has come in a short time and the direction in which it’s heading,” head coach Malcolm Eugene said.

At the center of the team’s turnaround are key young leaders. Sophomore captains Izabelle Colato and Timeyah Hardge have set the tone in their second year with the program, demonstrating leadership, resilience, and consistency. Alongside them, standout first-year player Bella Duke has emerged as a rising star, contributing to the team’s success and future potential.

The Blue Devil flag football team will be returning all of their starters for next season as Huntington aims to be a competitor in a tough League I.

“With meaningful progress already made and a strong core of young talent in place, the future is bright for the Blue Devils,” said Eugene, who has been assisted by Patrick Reilly. “This season is no longer just about improvement—it’s about building a foundation for sustained success.

Coach Eugene is now turning his attention to building something even bigger than this season’s turnaround—developing the next generation of athletes. With plans to introduce girls’ flag football teams for players as young as eight years old, the goal is to create a strong pipeline that not only feeds future Blue Devil talent but also strengthens community involvement from the ground up.

This initiative is about more than just wins and losses. By starting at the youth level, Coach Eugene aims to teach fundamentals, build confidence, and instill the values of teamwork, discipline, and resilience early on. Creating opportunities for young girls to learn and grow within the sport will help ensure that when they reach the high school level, they are prepared both physically and mentally to compete.

“The vision is to build a sustainable program structure that can grow year after year—one that mirrors the success and organization of programs like HV Lax,” Eugene said. “By modeling a system that emphasizes development, consistency, and community support, the Blue Devils can establish a long-term foundation for excellence.”

With the high school team already showing significant improvement and young leaders emerging, this youth initiative represents the next step in elevating the program. “The future of Blue Devils girls flag football isn’t just bright—it’s being built intentionally, starting now,” Eugene said.