The York girls flag football team took major steps forward this season.
The Dukes finished 12-5 overall and 4-2 in West Suburban Conference action. York went 2-1 in the IHSA postseason (as a No. 9 seed), opening regional play with a 46-0 win over No. 24 seed Trinity and then winning its regional semifinal game with a 13-6 victory against No. 8 seed Loyola Academy.
York lost 40-13 in the Maine South regional title game to the host Hawks, the No. 1 seed.
“The biggest thing I can say about this group is we have grown a ton as the season has gone on,” York coach Aidan Fischer said.
York ended the season winning six of its final eight contests. “We have had to fight through injuries, tough opponents, and some moments where we really had to look at ourselves and respond. The girls have done that every time,” Fischer said.
Fischer said York’s offense became a completely different unit as the season wore on. “We brought in a whole new system this year, and at first, it definitely took some time,” he said.
Fischer pointed out York scored seven points in its first game and had some growing pains, “but since then the girls have completely taken off,” he said. “We have set program records in passing yards, receiving yards and touchdowns, and our running game has taken a huge step forward, too.”
Quarterback Kaitlyn O’Rourke had around 1,400 passing yards, 850 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns through the team’s first 14 games. “And she has done that while missing three games,” Fischer said. “What she has done at quarterback this year has been incredible.”
Gianna Lancilotti had a team-best 903 rushing yards and eight touchdowns through 14 games, while Lena Martinelli was at around 500 receiving yards and another 300 on the ground through 14 games. “Lena has been a true dual threat,” Fischer said. “That balance is what makes us dangerous. I feel like we can score from anywhere on the field, through the air or on the ground, and the girls believe that every time we have the ball.”
Growth has come on the other side of the ball as well.
“I think the numbers speak for themselves,” Fischer said.
York had 24 total quarterback sacks last year and had 56 through 14 games this season.
“I challenged our defense to shoot high this year, and they delivered,” the coach said.
Ellie Keaton led the way with a program-record 19 sacks (through 14 games), while Jada Blackman, a new addition this season, had 13 and Claire Thompson had 13 as well. Those three, alone, accounted for 45 QB takedowns.
Fischer also lauded the efforts of York defensive coordinator Stevan Dobric (York’s head girls soccer coach) and the entire defensive group.
“Those numbers don’t happen because of one player,” he said. “The coverage has to hold up, the rushers have to work together and everyone has to do their job.”
Fischer pointed out York was allowing around 17 points per game last year and that number sank to around 11 this year (through 14 games), “so it isn’t just about sacks,” he said. “This defense has become a complete unit.”
Fischer added Micky Blackwell and Ellie Conners both worked tremendously hard to earn starting spots, “and their improvement has been really noticeable,” he said. “There are plays those two make where the whole sideline gets out of its seat. They have earned everything they are getting right now.”
Thompson is a part of a group along with Blackwell and Conners who Fischer noted deserves extra credit for how much they stepped up of late.
“Claire mainly plays defense, but we use her on offense in what I call our joker position,” he explained. “When she goes in, anything can happen. She can break an 89-yard touchdown or simply be exactly where we need her around the end zone. Because of injuries, we have asked her to do a lot of different things this year, and she has never let us down. As a coach, that means a lot because I know when I call on her, she is going to get the job done.”
Fischer reiterated the progress from last year to this year is impressive.
“What really jumps off the page is how different we are from a year ago,” he said. “The sack numbers are obviously huge, but offensively we have been completely reborn. Our passing game has led the charge, but our running game complements it, and we don’t feel like we have to win one specific way. We want to score the football, we want to be aggressive, and the girls have bought into that mentality at the highest level.
“More than anything though, our biggest growth has been our belief in one another. Earlier in the year, we had the talent, but we were still trying to find that gel. After some slow starts, and especially after getting knocked around by Lyons Township, we had to make a decision about what kind of team we wanted to be. I challenged the girls to respond and they did more than I could have asked for. They became hungrier, closer and more confident in each other.”
Fischer added from the quarterback, to the receivers, to the center and everyone on offense, “al the way through our defense, our coaches, and the rest of the program, there is a belief that nobody is more important than the person next to them,” he said. “That is what has taken us from being a talented team to being a team that believes it can do something special.”
Fischer also gave a shout out to the York fans, “because they have been a huge part of this,” he said. “Our students, parents, families, teachers, administrators, and everyone else who has shown up or these girls have brought energy that our players absolutely feed off. When we get a big sack, touchdown, interception or stop, you can hear the crowd react, you can feel what it does to our sideline. It matters.”
Fischer said the goal heading into the offseason is simple: “We want to keep growing this program and make it something people are excited to be part of,” he said. “We want younger girls watching and thinking someday they want to wear a York jersey. We want our JV players looking forward to their opportunity. We want alumni coming back, and we want those stands getting bigger every year. At the end of the day, we are going to keep building this thing the best way we know how: have fun, believe in each other and kick butt.”
