Photos from the first women’s college flag football game in Illinois between Benedictine and Rockford on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. Rockford won 32-0.
Rockford’s Emma Valenzuela (22) celebrates with Clare Strong (20) and Mercedes Morales (21) after scoring a touchdown against Benedictine in the second quarter of Illinois’ first women’s college flag football game on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Rockford coach Tim Trevier speaks to his players before Illinois’ first women’s college flag football game against Benedictine on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Rockford’s Jennah Grice (23) tries to escape Benedictine’s Marilyn Myrick on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Rockford’s Emma Valenzuela (22) runs through Benedictine’s Saniya Shotwell (3) and Jacqueline Garro (12) for a touchdown in the second quarter on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Benedictine coach Caroline Schwartz and Rockford coach Tim Trevier greet each other before Illinois’ first women’s college flag football game on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Rockford’s Gina Neils (9) celebrates with teammates after making an interception in the second quarter against Benedictine on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Benedictine’s Marilyn Myrick (2) tries to get past Rockford’s Madison King in the first quarter on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Rockford’s Daniela Torres-Mandujano (7) misses the flag of Benedictine’s Marilyn Myrick in the first quarter on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Benedictine players warm up before Illinois’ first women’s college flag football game against Rockford on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Benedictine coach Caroline Schwartz smiles as she listens to a speech before a flag football game against Rockford on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Chicago Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren speaks before Illinois’ first women’s college flag football game between Rockford and Benedictine on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Benedictine’s Madison Stevens (9) stops Rockford’s Clare Strong in the second quarter on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Rockford’s Amari Camacho-Anderson cheers for her teammates from the sideline during a flag football game against Benedictine on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Rockford’s Maureen Shelton (10) tries to get past the Benedictine defense in the first quarter on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Benedictine’s Marilyn Myrick, right, grabs the flag of Rockford’s Jennah Grice in the second quarter on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Rockford’s Clare Strong (20) tries to get past the Benedictine defense in the first quarter on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Benedictine coach Caroline Schwartz speaks to her players before a game against Rockford on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Benedictine’s Emily Castillo (11) smiles on the bench before a game against Rockford on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Rockford’s Gina Neils (9) and Clare Strong celebrate after Neils made an interception in the second quarter against Benedictine on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Spectators watch the second quarter of Illinois’ first women’s college flag football game between Rockford and Benedictine on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Rockford’s Daniela Torres-Mandujano (7) tries to stop Benedictine’s Marilyn Myrick in the fourth quarter on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Benedictine and Rockford players pose for a photo after Illinois’ first women’s college flag football game on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Rockford’s Maureen Shelton, right, gets a hug from her sister Aiden Shelton, 9, after her team defeated Benedictine on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Rockford’s Arrie Jones, left, hugs Benedictine’s Saniya Shotwell (3) after Illinois’ first women’s college flag football game on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Rockford’s Emily Del Rosario (3) escapes Benedictine’s Marilyn Myrick in the third quarter on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Rockford’s Kayla Ladines (8) pulls the flag of Benedictine’s Marilyn Myrick in the fourth quarter on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Rockford’s Kayla Ladines falls to the turf after pulling the flag of Benedictine’s Marilyn Myrick in the fourth quarter on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Rockford players celebrate after beating Benedictine in Illinois’ first women’s college flag football game on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Benedictine’s Saniya Shotwell (3) tries to outrun Rockford’s Daniela Torres-Mandujano in the fourth quarter on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Rockford’s Madison King (4) tries to stop Benedictine’s Marilyn Myrick in the fourth quarter on March 8, 2025, at the Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
