The Right Stuff

Girls flag football resurrects a winning tradition at The Hive

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For the past two spring seasons, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Kevin Moriarty ’63 enjoyed a view from his second-floor office at Bishop Joseph Francis Hall that made him smile. On the field below, the new Gray Bee flag football team was hard at practice, learning lessons of teamwork and persistence that
they’ll carry with them throughout their lives. 

“It’s a joy to watch,” said Mr. Moriarty, a gridiron player at Benedict’s for four years. Only now, the field is occupied by a squad of 18 young women from the Girls Prep Division. And taking the place of legendary coach Joe Kasberger is a trio of coaches, intent on advancing the high standards of competition and accountability that Benedict’s is famous for. 

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“These young women compete as hard as the guys did 50 years ago. They're playing the sport with the same passion.”

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“Football is football,” said Head Coach Chris Firriolo, Sr., who oversees flag football with Assistant Coach Dave Monisera, Director of Security and Emergency Management. Joseph Stoddart, a Benedictine Volunteer, joined the coaching staff for the 2025 season. “These young women compete as hard as the guys did 50 years ago. They’re playing the same sport with the same passion.” 

 Girls’ flag football is exploding in New Jersey. Four years ago, there were 20 high school teams statewide. By the opening of the 2025 season, 130 high schools fielded teams, with the NJSIAA expected to sanction the sport in 2026. The rapid expansion of flag football is gaining greater attention with the support of the New York Jets (the NFL team provided start-up funds for the Gray Bee program) and the sport’s debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. 

Driven by this growth, St. Benedict’s Prep started a varsity flag football team in 2024 and quickly built a competitive record over two seasons. The team earned six shutouts in 2024-25, finished second in the United Division and reached the Super Football Conference tournament quarterfinals. The program’s achievements are even more remarkable because most players are new to the sport. 

 “We all play a part in our success,” said co-captain Kayla Jones ’26, a track and field athlete who picked up flag football this year. “Everyone lifts each other up.” For these young women, belonging to the five-year-old Girls Prep Division at a 157-year-old school means they have something additional to prove. “We’re definitely carrying on a legacy,” said Kayla, referring to the fact that competitive football hadn’t been played at The Hive since the 1971-72 season. “But we’re also starting our own legacy. We’re stepping up to show what we can bring to the table. And we’re building for the girls who come after us.” 

“The coaches believe in us,” said co-captain Morgan Lester ’25, who played two seasons on the team and was recruited to play flag football at Marymount University in Virginia. She’ll be joined at Marymount this fall by teammate Liliane Agbana ’25. Morgan is particularly proud of the team’s final game of the season at the SFC tournament. The first round of the tournament was a decisive 6-0 win against Paramus High School. Down several players due to injuries, the Gray Bees held their opponents, Paterson Eastside, to a stalemate in the first half of the quarterfinals. “We continued to fight even when [Eastside] scored in the second half,” said Morgan. The 13-0 loss was a tough one, but the girls’ attitude is always, “We’ll get the next one.” 

Win or lose, the girls’ mindset and character point to “the right stuff” necessary to build a winning program at St. Benedict’s Prep. “Football is a valuable sport that teaches a significant number of young women perseverance and commitment to each other,” said Mr. Moriarty, who looks forward to the third season of the program. The enthusiasm of the Benedict’s community has also been infectious. “It’s incredible to watch the support of the alumni and community,” said Coach Firriolo. It’s an amazing opportunity for Gray Bees to play a sport that is dominated by young women. They show up every day with the drive to be better.”