The season is a wrap. Now the recognition starts.
Indiana Preps begins its postseason awards with the All-Finals Team, followed by the All-Indiana Teams and Players of the Year. First up are the players who dominated championship Saturday at the second annual girls flag state finals at Grand Park.
CO-MVPS
Quinn Driscoll | Senior | Penn
Complete mastery of the quarterback position. She can make every throw, and her running ability is deceptive. A track athlete with long strides, Driscoll covers ground faster than you expect. High IQ with the football in her hands. She made every play count when Penn needed it.
Alivia Dawson | Senior | Penn
If you were in attendance on Saturday, then you witnessed the greatness that Dawson possesses. Big play after big play. Deep touchdowns, evading defenders, crucial grabs. She had it all in her bag that day. She is a flat-out playmaker, and if she is lined up on your team, you have to feel pretty good about your chances. Although she is committed to play college basketball, don’t be surprised if more suitors come after her for football.
Alivia Dawson Post Game Interview
ALL-FINALS TEAM
Alexis Werner | Junior | Penn
A major target for Penn with a tremendous catch radius. Overlooked by those outside the program, but Werner was a key piece in extending drives and turning catches into long gains.
Makenzie Juszczak | Sophomore | Penn
Arguably the most complete performance on the day belonged to the sophomore. She starred on both sides of the ball and made the play of the day, a one-handed grab in the end zone for an extra point that was SportsCenter Top 10 worthy.
Amani Reed | Senior | Penn
An unsung hero on the defensive side for the champions. Reed made multiple flag pulls and a handful of pass breakups. Defensive players rarely get the spotlight in this sport, but her presence was felt and needed.
Mylee Hurse | Senior | Snider
There is not a more exciting player to watch in the country. An absolute phenom with the football. The speed, the agility, the shiftiness and the explosiveness are all packed into a small package. It was evident that Penn’s game plan was to contain the star, and it worked for the most part. But as with any player with her skills, plays are still going to happen. Hurse is another player who will play this sport for a long time.
Amya Jackson | Junior | Snider
The junior quarterback showcased why she is one of the best in the state. She is athletic, accurate and can extend plays. She is not always looking to run. Jackson can get off her spot, move the pocket, reset and make the throw. Snider will be back in the conversation next season with Jackson behind center.
Zoe Eke | Sophomore | Snider
An underclassman to know, who displayed solid receiving skills and made some key grabs in the semifinal game against Penn.
Za’Nariae White | Junior | South Vigo
In a highly competitive group of quarterbacks, White did what she does best and balled out. Falling just short in the semifinal loss to Lawrence North, the junior signal caller accounted for three touchdowns. She tallied over 100 yards through the air and another 100 on the ground. White showcased why she is arguably in the running for preseason Player of the Year for 2027.
Shaundrea Sanders | Junior | South Vigo
We did not know much about Sanders heading into Saturday, so we had no idea what to expect. It was clear the junior should not be overlooked heading into the 2027 season. Sanders is a playmaker and very versatile.
Kamea English-Malone | Sophomore | South Vigo
A name worth mentioning, though she did not show up much in the stat column. But the few grabs she did make were impressive in person.
Heavynne Beard | Sophomore | Lawrence North
Another spectacular showing by the sophomore quarterback. “Big Heav” is as special as it gets. Facing a major deficit in the title game, she showed up big, clawing her team back into position for a memorable comeback. She ran for 100 yards and threw for 191 more, accounting for four total touchdowns. It did not stop there. She blanketed receivers at defensive back and had multiple key pass breakups. Beard will continue to make waves in this sport. There is not a bigger name in the game at the moment, and she is living up to it.
Jaida Wheat | Sophomore | Lawrence North
Wheat is an elusive playmaker with the ball who will leave you reaching for air. Her game translates very well to the next level and beyond. Another multi-sport athlete, she uses her skill set to translate from field to field, as she stars on the diamond.
Mykel Story | Freshman | Lawrence North
On the largest stage, Story did not shy away. Just a freshman, she rose to the occasion and made plays all over the field. Eight catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns in the state championship game is no small feat for someone who enrolled in high school a few months ago. She added another three scores in the semifinal against the Braves. Look for Story to write her own chapter over the next three seasons.
Up Next: All-Indiana Teams (Underclassmen and Seniors)
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