In 2011, the Marymount Regals captured the SDSSAA Senior Girls Division A Flag Football banner thanks to a 1-0 win over the Lockerby Vikings.
Five years later, double overtime was needed before Marymount disposed of the Confederation Chargers by a final score of 6-0.
Sure, the move to 7 v 7 from the previous 12 v 12 has opened up the field, with teams now combing regularly to put up 30 to 40 points or more. But it's not just a function of fewer numbers creating greater space.
Just 15 years old and now in grade 10, Callie Couillard can leverage the insights of seasons past, having first run a receiving pattern while still in grade eight at Ecole secondaire Macdonald-Cartier.
Scoring a pair of touchdowns on Monday at the turf of the James Jerome Sports Complex, Couillard and the Panthères grounded the Lively Hawks 18-6, with Kylie Breau adding the remaining six-pointer for the winners.
"I focus on looking back at the quarterback - and also being aware of who is around you, aware of your space," said Couillard. "After that, just keeping my eye on the ball. I played sports a lot as a child: soccer, basketball."
"This kind of has the running of soccer and the coordination of basketball."
More often than not, Couillard presents as a receiving threat for ESMC QB Alyssa Joslin, though she is open to other schemes that accentuate her speed. "I like sweeps, where you run behind the quarterback, get the ball and then cut in," she said.
And with the ball in her hands, it's not the avoidance of the grabbing hands of defenders that is primary to success. "You can practice the agility of your feet, quick hips, like in soccer, because you have to change directions a lot," said Couillard.
Leah Salo reached the end zone in a losing cause for Lively, with Emma Firman making good on a two-point conversion.
A division "A" battle saw the Lo-Ellen Park Knights surrender their first touchdown of the fall but still run away from the Marymount Regals with a degree of ease, improving to 4-0 thanks to a 24-13 win.
Rya D'Amour spearheaded the Knights attack with a pair of majors, with Lia Gallo (3 PATs and a FG - and that from 35 yards out) and Olivia Hamilton (TD) closing things off for the league-leaders.
Ella Tourville (TD), Paetyn Farmer (TD) and Becca Vaillancourt (convert) countered for Marymount, who saw their season mark drop to 2-3-0.
The Confederation Chargers remained one game back of Lo-Ellen, doubling the St Charles College Cardinals 28-14 as Lorelai van Drunen reached paydirt on three separate occasions for the Green & Gold.
Also chipping in were the likes of Lexi Baker (TD) and Avery Brooks (4 PATs) while the Cards were represented on the scoresheet by Lois Appiah Hagan (TD + 2 PATs) and Jenna Cole (TD).
A junior encounter closed out the Monday four game slate as the Lasalle Lancers recorded a big 17-12 win over St Charles. The Lancers offensive output came courtesy of the trio of Chloe Robichaud (TD), Julie Forigo (TD) and Veronica Paquette (2 PATs + FG) with Kara Kirkey and Ava Wicklander crossing the goal line once each for SCC.
