Lizzie Fabian named Butler County's first flag football player of the year

Lizzie Fabian gave Butler County flag football its first true benchmark. The North Catholic senior was named the inaugural Butler Eagle Flag Football Player of the Year, a fitting finish for a season in which she became one of the area’s most complete two-way players and the face of the county’s first sanctioned all-star era.

Fabian’s numbers tell the story of a player who controlled games on both sides of the ball. She finished with 15 total touchdowns, including seven rushing, seven receiving and a pick-six, while also producing 16 tackles for loss, four sacks and six interceptions. North Catholic used her at linebacker, athlete and all-purpose roles, and she led the Trojans in receiving yards and catches while also leading the team in sacks for three straight seasons. That mix of production and versatility helped her stand out in a league still defining its own standard of excellence.

The recognition also reflects how quickly Fabian moved from standout high school player to college prospect. She committed to Mercyhurst University to continue her flag football career, and in March she was selected to the Big 33 girls flag football roster representing the Pittsburgh Steelers. North Catholic later honored her as the 2026 Alex Brown Athletic Leadership Award winner, noting that she finished with 12 varsity letters across golf, hockey, flag football and lacrosse.

Fabian was not the only Butler County player to make an imprint on the first county all-star list. Seneca Valley receiver and safety Savannah Inman averaged 17.7 yards per catch and closed with 24 receptions for 425 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman Rylie Lesack emerged quickly as a major offensive threat, posting 31 catches for 478 yards and 10 touchdowns. Center Mia Negley also earned recognition for anchoring the Raiders’ attack.

The timing matters as much as the honors. Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association girls flag football became officially sanctioned beginning in the 2025-26 school year, after the board approved the sport as a statewide championship event. Western Pennsylvania’s growth was rapid, climbing from six teams in 2022 to 19 schools and 21 teams in 2023, then 36 schools and 38 teams in 2024, with about 50 teams projected in 2025. In that environment, Fabian’s selection matters because it helps set the local canon: this is what elite looks like in Butler County’s emerging flag scene, and the next wave of players now has a standard to chase.