Hamilton flag football begins new era after back-to-back titles

This is a new era for Hamilton’s flag football team.

The Huskies, the nationally ranked, two-time defending 6A state champion is on a 38-game winning streak but will look much different in the first week of the 2026 season.

With 12 seniors graduating, including The Arizona Republic’s two-time offensive player of the year, Samaya Taylor-Jenkins, and the transfer of sophomore quarterback Marlie Phillips, Hamilton has a revamped roster.

Hamilton opened up spring practice on March 30. Usually, Hamilton is the team others are chasing, but that will be different in the fall season.

“Our mindset is to prove everybody wrong because they definitely think that we’re nothing without Samaya and Marlie,” freshman Kayden Kisler said. “I think that’s not true. We can prove them wrong again. We have so many great athletes.”

Kisler was one of Hamilton’s key players last season, finishing with 51 flag pulls, 22 sacks and four interceptions.

One of the biggest changes is the roster size: Hamilton currently has about 20 players, down from 29 in 2025. Returning are junior Demi Woods, junior Markiah Riley, and freshmen Kayden Kisler and Athena Vasquez, all core players from last season’s title run. Woods’ twin sister, Daylee, is back after missing all of 2025.

It’s a new challenge for coach Matt Stone.

“What I still love the most about coaching is that I’m teaching,” said Stone, who is entering his 25th year as a teacher. “It’s a different classroom. This year, it’s a more fun challenge, teaching brand-new ideas and concepts that we just haven’t done. I’m finding that it’s a blast. I’m really encouraged by how much the girls have taken some of these new ideas.”

The biggest question is who will replace Phillips at quarterback, who transferred to Peoria Liberty after throwing for a state-record 104 touchdowns and 6,079 yards at Hamilton last season.

The offense will change, with fewer deep passing plays. It is now an option-based offense with multiple quarterbacks. The plan is to leverage the athleticism of the roster at quarterback, particularly speed.

Kisler, Vasquez and Riley have all thrown passes this spring. So have freshmen Harmony Cosby and Romaya Farrington. There will be games with box scores showing three players who have passing attempts.

It’s been quite the change for Vasquez, who has gone from snapping the ball to the quarterback and catching it (she had 18 touchdowns) to now throwing.