Moon Area's girls flag football team lost to Plum 26-13 in the WPIAL semifinals, ending their impressive playoff run. The team had previously upset Keystone Oaks and Seton LaSalle to reach this stage.
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UPPER ST. CLAIR — Following a pair of upsets against Section IV No. 2- Keystone Oaks and Section IV No. 1 Seton LaSalle, Moon Area’s Cinderella run in the inaugural WPIAL girls flag football championships came to an end, falling to Section III top seed Plum 26-13 in the semifinals at Upper St. Clair High School, Thursday, May 7.
Moon Area co-head coaches Jason Russell and Mike Muraco have coached the team since its inception five short years ago when the sport wasn’t sanctioned by WPIAL or PIAA.
To play on championship night in the first season that the sport was sanctioned was special for the pair, regardless of the outcome.
“We have been playing for a couple of years now and it was nice that it is finally sponsored at the WPIAL level,” Muraco said. “Now that it’s sanctioned by the WPIAL, we are getting an opportunity to compete in this setting and to be in the top four, it has been an awesome experience.”
Moon Area's Kendall Dydek (1) tracks in a touchdown reception in the second half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Moon Area wide reciever Reese Keslar (14) turns upfield after hauling in a pass in the second half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Moon Area's Sara Tavares (2) cuts upfield and tries to evade the flag pull of Plum linebacker Caydence Morgan (6) in the second half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
The final score was Plum 26, Moon Area 13.
Moon Area defeated Keystone Oaks and Seton LaSalle before facing Plum.
The championships took place on May 7, 2023.
The co-head coaches are Jason Russell and Mike Muraco.
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Moon Area's Madilyn Wilson (3) sprints upfield after hauling in a pass in the second half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Moon Area's Madilyn Wilson (3) looks to evade Plum linebacker Isla Filo (1) in the second half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Moon Area's Isabelly Rodrigues (8) looks to haul in a deep pass in the second half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Moon Area's Gianna Reynolds (13) looks to pull the flag of Plum wide reciever Tamia West (7) in the second half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Moon Area's Sara Tavares (2) looks to evade a Plum player to gain extra yards in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Moon Area head coaches Jason Russell (left) and Mike Muraco (right) look on in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Moon Area's Kendall Dydek (1) turns up field after hauling in a pass in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Moon Area wide receiver Reese Keslar (14) looks to haul in a pass while being defended by Plum linebacker Caydence Morgan (6) and corner back Hayden Wawrzyniak (17) in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Moon Area's Alyssa Naim (4) pursues the quarterback in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Moon Area quarterback Sydney Ray (10) releases a pass downfield in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Moon Area's Madilyn Wilson (3) looks to haul in a pass in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Moon Area's Avery Pacheco (23) looks to go for the flag pull in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Moon Area's Gianna Reynolds (13) goes for the flag pull on a Plum reciever in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Moon Area quarterback Sydney Ray (10) gets set to fire a pass downfield in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Moon Area's Julianna Corrado (15) looks to evade a Plum defender after coming away with an interception in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
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Moon Area's Kendall Dydek (1) tracks in a touchdown reception in the second half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
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Moon Area's Kendall Dydek (1) tracks in a touchdown reception in the second half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
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Moon Area wide reciever Reese Keslar (14) turns upfield after hauling in a pass in the second half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
3 / 18
Moon Area's Sara Tavares (2) cuts upfield and tries to evade the flag pull of Plum linebacker Caydence Morgan (6) in the second half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
4 / 18
Moon Area's Madilyn Wilson (3) sprints upfield after hauling in a pass in the second half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
5 / 18
Moon Area's Madilyn Wilson (3) looks to evade Plum linebacker Isla Filo (1) in the second half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
6 / 18
Moon Area's Isabelly Rodrigues (8) looks to haul in a deep pass in the second half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
7 / 18
Moon Area's Gianna Reynolds (13) looks to pull the flag of Plum wide reciever Tamia West (7) in the second half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
8 / 18
Moon Area's Sara Tavares (2) looks to evade a Plum player to gain extra yards in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
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Moon Area head coaches Jason Russell (left) and Mike Muraco (right) look on in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
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Moon Area's Kendall Dydek (1) turns up field after hauling in a pass in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
11 / 18
Moon Area wide receiver Reese Keslar (14) looks to haul in a pass while being defended by Plum linebacker Caydence Morgan (6) and corner back Hayden Wawrzyniak (17) in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
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Moon Area's Alyssa Naim (4) pursues the quarterback in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
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Moon Area quarterback Sydney Ray (10) releases a pass downfield in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
14 / 18
Moon Area's Madilyn Wilson (3) looks to haul in a pass in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
15 / 18
Moon Area's Avery Pacheco (23) looks to go for the flag pull in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
16 / 18
Moon Area's Gianna Reynolds (13) goes for the flag pull on a Plum reciever in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
17 / 18
Moon Area quarterback Sydney Ray (10) gets set to fire a pass downfield in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
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Moon Area's Julianna Corrado (15) looks to evade a Plum defender after coming away with an interception in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
In the first round and in the quarterfinals, Moon Area outscored its opponents 62-19, holding Section IV champion Seton LaSalle to a touchdown en route to the semifinal round.
But against Plum, it was tough sledding for the Tigers’ offensive unit, with Plum forcing a flurry of turnovers, not allowing Moon Area to fully settle into the game as an offense.
“The plays were there to be made, we just didn’t make them today. Credit to Plum for capitalizing on our mistakes,” Russell said. “The beauty of sports is that sometimes you play good, sometimes you play bad. We didn’t have our best game today as a unit, but they had a great season.”
Moon Area's Gianna Reynolds (13) goes for the flag pull on a Plum reciever in the first half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
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While Plum controlled the momentum for most of the game, Moon Area did have its moments on both sides of the ball.
Its defense came up with two interceptions in the contests, one in the first half by Julianna Corrado and another early in the third quarter.
Then in the fourth quarter, Moon Area struck twice, first with quarterback Sydney Ray connecting with Kendall Dydek for a touchdown, followed by another score with less than a minute remaining.
“Nobody wants to get shut out, so it was good for our team to show that we could put up some points if we executed and did the things right,” Russell said.
Moon Area's Kendall Dydek (1) tracks in a touchdown reception in the second half of the WPIAL girls flag football semifinal matchup between Moon Area and Plum, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pa.
While Moon Area’s season came to an end on the final day of the first season of WPIAL girls flag football, tonight’s game was a reminder for everyone involved to step back, take a look and see how much the game has evolved.
“The state should be happy with where it’s at. Going from around six teams five years ago to 56 now, it is going to continue to grow and five years from now, hopefully it gets even bigger,” Russell said.
Ethan Morrison is the sports reporter for the Beaver County Times. Contact him at emorrison@usatodayco.com and follow him at EthanMorrison26 on X.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Moon Area falls to Plum in inaugural WPIAL flag football playoffs