Living in Florida means that football is a year-round treat. Spring sports are here, and high school flag football is officially back!

The road to state championships in May is long. There's no doubt that everyone wants to make it to the Tampa to fight for the trophy. However, the talent-stacked teams in Palm Beach County are proving early on that there's no better place to play than home.

At least for the next couple of months.

Get the rundown of the area's noteworthy teams, players, and matchups in 2024 below.

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Top flag football teams, players, games to watch

Park Vista

After finishing the 2023 regular season ranked No. 11 in Florida only to be stunned in the first round of Class 2A playoffs by seventh-seed Palm Beach Gardens, the Cobras are back with a vengeance this spring. Vista is 2-0 early with two shutouts, hanging 45 points on Cardinal Newman and 47 on Morningside Academy.

Player to know: Zahra Fazal, WR/DB, Jr. − Averaging about 12 yards per catch with 189 yards on 16 receptions for four touchdowns through two games in 2024. Defensively, contributed two flag pulls and two interceptions.

Game to keep on the radar: 3/2 vs. Seminole Ridge, 7:15 p.m.

Somerset Academy-Canyons

The Cougars were an eighth-seed that managed to find their way to 1A region championships. Fortunately, Somerset fielded quite the young crew, meaning the majority of the roster is returning this spring with postseason experience it didn't have heading into last year's 7-0 season finale against Mainland.

Player to know: Ava Wotipka, QB, Fr. − Completed 57.1 percent (279-of-489) of passes for 2,649 yards for 30 touchdowns in 2023. Added 480 yards on the ground on 104 carries for nine touchdowns.

Game to keep on the radar: 3/5 at Spanish River, 7:15 p.m.

Spanish River

Only one Palm Beach County team could make it out of Region 3 and into the final four of the Class 2A state championship last year, and sixth-seed Seminole Ridge pulled out a 13-7 upset of River. Now, the Sharks will navigate another gritty schedule without longtime quarterback Gianna Pacitti, but sophomore Brooke Eriksson is already filling the cleats of the graduated senior well. The newcomer opened the season against Saint John Paul II completing 14 of 18 passes for 208 yards and six touchdowns.

Player to know: Gianah Kirkwood, LB, Fr. − Recorded six flag pulls and two sacks in varsity debut, winning 52-0 over SJPII.

Game to keep on the radar: 3/9 vs. Lennard (Ruskin) in Shark Showcase at Spanish River, 10 a.m.

Seminole Ridge

Spanish River isn't the only crew welcoming a new face at QB. Freshman Aubrey Fogle is taking the place of Ridge former Jaida Salguero, who led the Hawks to a 14-4 record and state semifinal appearance against ultimate 2A champion Alonso. To start the year 2-0 with wins over Plant and Newsome, Fogel completed 68 percent of passes (34-of-50) for four touchdowns against two picks.

Player to know: Dakota Parks, DB, Jr. − Came second on team in interceptions last year with seven for 38 yards. Building on success of 2023 season with seven flag pulls, two interceptions, and one pass breakup through two games this spring.

Game to keep on the radar: 3/12 vs. Palm Beach Gardens, 7 p.m.

Palm Beach Gardens

Between the talent scattering its roster and the upset of Park Vista to send the team to region semifinals for its deepest postseason run in program history, Gardens solidified itself as one to watch in 2024. The Gators have wins over Lake Worth and Jensen Beach this spring, but the most coveted will be a victory over Seminole Ridge, which denied Gardens tickets to district and region championships. Ridge will host Gardens for a regular season meeting on March 12 at 7 p.m.

Player to know: Jayila Stallworth, WR/DB, Jr. − Averaging 13.6 yards per catch on eight receptions for 109 yards through two games this spring. Defensively, contributed two flag pulls and one 80-yard interception.

Game to keep on the radar: 3/28 at Somerset Academy-Canyons, 7 p.m.

Wellington

Wellington has Ridge on its get-back list, too. While the Wolverines claimed a district championship over the Hawks, the 20-6 win was enough to inspire a sixth-seed Ridge to eliminate Welly region quarterfinal the next week. With senior Keelin Coleman back at quarterback for her final varsity season, Wellington is keeping the momentum of last spring's 13-3 finish going with two dubs against Dwyer and Pahokee to start off 2024.

Player to know: Avery Schroeder, WR, So. − Coleman's choice target with team-high six receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, averaging 15.3 yards per carry.

Game to keep on the radar: 4/2 vs. Western, 7:15 p.m.

New kids on the block

Cardinal Newman

Right when you thought you couldn't get enough Cardinal Newman football in the fall, the school has added flag to its athletic offerings. The Crusaders, led by coach Andrew Kennedy, are trying their hand at competing this spring after getting the independent program off the ground in 2023.

Newman's girls came just one-possession shy of clinching their first-ever victory last Wednesday, falling 12-6 to Suncoast in double overtime.

Dr. Joaquin Garcia

Although Park Vista is continuing its winning ways under new coach Andrew Joseph, the Cobras traded longtime leader Carlton Smith over to Dr. Joaquin Garcia High, Palm Beach County's newest high school, to charter the Bulldogs' program.

Garcia is off to an impressive 3-1 start, penciling in a historic 12-7 season opener win at McArthur. Following a 6-0 loss to Atlantic, the senior-less squad recovered well for success against Centennial and Oxbridge Academy last week.

Emilee Smarr is a sports reporter for the Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: 2024 preview: Palm Beach flag football teams, players, games to watch