St. Joseph headlines girls flag football doubleheader at Prep Kickoff Classic

St. Joseph’s girls flag football team took center stage again as the Detroit Sports Commission added a girls flag football doubleheader to the 21st annual Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State University’s Tom Adams Field.

The addition gave the season-opening showcase two girls flag games alongside the classic’s traditional football lineup and put a two-time defending state champion in the spotlight. St. Joseph’s presence gives the event immediate credibility, especially after the school beat Gibraltar Carlson 28-12 on June 7 to win the Michigan Girls High School Flag Football League championship and claim another state title.

The Prep Kickoff Classic had already been tied to girls flag football a year earlier, when the Detroit Sports Commission announced on Aug. 13, 2025, that the sport would return to the 20th Annual Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic. Amazon had been named the new title sponsor on March 12, 2025, and tickets for the 2025 event went on sale May 14, 2025, as the commission marked the classic’s 20th anniversary for Aug. 28-29, 2025.

That 2025 edition included four tackle games and two girls flag contests at Tom Adams Field, according to event coverage from High School Football America. The girls’ portion was not treated as a side note: it was built into the official opening weekend lineup at a major college venue in Detroit, where high school football traditionally gets one of its biggest stages of the year.

For Michigan’s girls flag football scene, the doubleheader carried more weight than a simple schedule addition. Putting St. Joseph into the showcase brought a proven program into a high-profile event that already draws attention from coaches, players and scouts across the state. Gibraltar Carlson’s inclusion in the championship result also tied the showcase back to the teams that have already shaped the competitive landscape.

The move also underscored how quickly girls flag football has moved from a separate lane into the main football conversation in Michigan. With Amazon backing the classic, Wayne State hosting it, and a reigning state champion on the field, the event gave the sport a marquee platform at a moment when its profile keeps rising.