Rome High’s inaugural flag football season has quickly become one for the record books. Launching its first-ever campaign in September, the program wasted no time carving out a name for itself in Georgia’s rapidly growing high school flag football landscape. Now, as the regular season winds down, the Lady Wolves have added another milestone: head coach Jared Hughes has been nominated for the Atlanta Falcons Coach of the Week, an honor that recognizes outstanding leadership in the sport.
A Strong First Season
The Lady Wolves currently hold an impressive 8–2 record, with their only region loss coming against a seasoned opponent in its third year of competition. Rome has clinched a playoff berth, a rare achievement for a debut program, and will close out regular-season play this Thursday at Barron Stadium, with games scheduled for 5:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
The Rise of Flag Football in Georgia
Flag football has seen explosive growth in Georgia over the past decade. The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) officially sanctioned girls’ flag football as a varsity sport in 2020, with support from the Atlanta Falcons and the Arthur M. Blank Foundation. Before GHSA’s adoption, the sport developed through pilot programs in metro Atlanta, where participation and enthusiasm proved there was a strong demand for a sanctioned girls’ alternative to traditional fall-season sports.
Since its official launch, Georgia has quickly become a national leader in high school girls’ flag football. The statewide initiative has opened doors for thousands of athletes—many of whom previously had limited fall athletics options—and has paved pathways to collegiate flag football programs that continue to expand across the country.
How to Vote for Coach Hughes
Fans can help Rome secure a $1,000 grant from the Arthur Blank Foundation by voting for Coach Hughes. Voting remains open until Nov. 19 at noon.
Vote here:
(Link provided by Rome High)
https://www.ajc.com/sports/2025/11/vote-week-5-falcons-high-school-girls-flag-football-coach-of-the-week/
