Deltona lost to Miami Northwestern 40-32 in the Class 2A state semifinals, ending their historic 20-1 season. The Wolves led late in the game but were unable to secure the win due to turnovers.
Mentioned in this story
(Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)
Deltona suffered the first and only loss of its historic 2026 girls flag football season in excruciating fashion Friday morning.
The Wolves led with less than four minutes to go before faltering in a 40-32 loss to Miami Northwestern in a Class 2A state semifinal game played at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ indoor AdventHealth Training Center.
Deltona, which finished 20-1, led 32-27 with less than four minutes to go but had its next two possessions end with interceptions. Northwestern (20-1) took full advantage, scoring twice in the final 3:52 to prevail.
The second Orlando-area state tourney qualifier, Harmony (19-2), also fell victim to turnovers in a 39-19 loss against Lennard (13-7) in a 4A semifinal. Like Deltona, Harmony opened the scoring in its game with a touchdown pass by prolific ninth-grade quarterback Ivy Munns to Kalie Conley on its first possession.
Munns came into the game owning Harmony’s record for TD passes in a season and added two more late in the game to finish with 76 for the year. She had a stack of completions but was intercepted four times and those picks led to four consecutive scores by Lennard for a 33-7 halftime lead that grew to 39-7.
Deltona’s standout senior quarterback, Frantashia Williams, engineered four touchdown drives that went the full 66 yards on the 80-yard field for flag football, which does not have kickoffs. Possessions to start each half and after scores begin at a team’s own 14-yard line.
The Wolves also had a 43-yard TD march and built leads of 7-0, 14-7, 20-19 and 32-27. Williams scored herself on three short keepers and threw two touchdown passes.
But she vomited on the sideline with her team leading 14-13 with 4:09 remaining in the first half and may have played the rest of the game at less than 100%. She led the state in touchdowns scored with 48.
Williams did start the Wolves’ next possession with a good punt return that gave her team a chance to widen the lead. But Deltona was stopped on a fourth-and-goal play.
The final score was 40-32 in favor of Miami Northwestern.
Deltona's two interceptions in the final minutes allowed Miami Northwestern to score twice and win the game.
Deltona finished the season with a record of 20-1.
The game was played at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' indoor AdventHealth Training Center.
Aston Villa defeated Liverpool 4-2, securing Champions League qualification while leaving Liverpool needing a win against Brentford to secure their own spot. Watkins scored twice in the second half, highlighting Villa's dominance.
Notts County secures League Two play-off final spot after 0-0 draw with Chesterfield
Texas A&M lands five-star OT Mark Matthews, now No. 1 in recruiting!
Exploring the good, bad, and ugly of the Jaguars' 2026 NFL schedule.
Texas A&M secures its fifth five-star commitment for the 2027 cycle with Mark Matthews joining the class.
Cleveland Browns' 2026 NFL schedule reveals a grim outlook despite offseason changes.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
Both teams scored two third-quarter TDs, including a 31-yard Deltona pass from Williams to Dihanna Romain, who broke free from several defenders with her flags intact. Northwestern led 27-26 going into the final period.
Deltona’s defense forced a punt and Williams’ returned the ball to the Northwestern 37. She scrambled for a first down and then rolled right and flicked a 4-yard touchdown pass to Olivia Hall to regain the lead, 32-27.
Northwestern answered with a TD pass from its star junior QB, Tashara Robinson, to a wide open Jade Yacinthe for a 33-32 lead the Wolves could not overcome.
Northwestern’s Faith Key intercepted an overthrow by Williams and ran it back for a TD that gave the Bulls a 40-32 lead with 2:29 remaining.
Deltona still had a chance and moved the chains with Williams passing to junior Camara Pate and then tucking the ball and running to convert a 4th-and-6 play with 1:12 to go. The elusive Williams passed again to Pate and scrambled to set up a third-and-goal opportunity from less than two yards out.
Williams rolled right but was hurried by two defenders and her throw on the run was intercepted by Northwestern’s Jah’Keriyah Brown with only 16 seconds remaining. Northwestern took a knee to run out the clock and advance to Saturday’s state championship game at noon.
The Bulls will play top seed Tampa Robinson (20-1), which won against Choctawhatchee (17-4). Robinson has won five consecutive state titles and 10 in the 12 years since the FHSAA sanctioned flag football as a championship sport in 2014.