The Schaumburg High School flag football team has spent the fall proving it belongs with the toughest programs in the state.
The girls opened with six straight wins before suffering their only loss of the season, a 20-13 battle at Fremd. They quickly rebounded with three more victories, pushing their overall record to 11-1 and 8-1 in conference. As a result, they earned a No. 5 state ranking and a No. 25 spot nationally. Along the way, they have dominated opponents outscoring opponents 261–68 and posting five shutouts in nine games.
Much of this year’s success comes from a blend of experience and new energy. The team has leaned on lessons from last season while also welcoming contributions from seniors and a talented freshman class. The result has been a more confident, more complete squad.
Playing in the conference’s upper division has also sharpened the team. Every game has brought some form of adversity, whether it’s a tough opponent or a slow start.
“These girls are extreme competitors and have found a way to overcome whatever it was,” Head Coach Matt Gruszka said. “Because of this, I think we will be playoff ready in early October.”
Even with their dominant start to the season, the coaches stress that success isn’t about a handful of players—it’s about everyone taking care of their role on the field. Contributions that don’t show up in the stat sheet have fueled the winning streak.
“We are so deep and have such great synergy that every game it is someone else stepping into the spotlight on offense or defense, stated coach Justin Teschner. “It is fun to watch.
“The biggest obstacle is really us,” the coach said. “As long as these girls keep believing and playing like they believe, they can take a serious run at the end of the season.”
With one of the best records in Illinois the Saxons have put themselves in position to be a real contender when the playoffs begin. The next few weeks will decide whether the team’s fast start can translate into a strong postseason run, but if their first 10 games are any indication, the girls are built for the challenge.