Derby's girls flag football team played its first home game Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Panther Stadium, a milestone for a program that didn't exist a year ago.

The Lady Panthers lost to Maize South 27-0 but showed defensive grit, holding the Mavericks scoreless scoreless in the second and third quarters before fading in the fourth, according to the Derby Informer.

"It was an incredible atmosphere and is something that the city will be behind 100 percent," head coach Bryan Chadwick said. "… First home game, we're making history."

Derby is one of 49 Kansas high schools fielding girls flag football teams this fall after the KSHSAA Board of Directors voted 61-1 on April 23 to sanction the sport, as KWCH reported. Kansas became the 18th state to recognize it at the high school level.

The Lady Panthers opened the season Sept. 2 with road losses to Maize South (22-6) and Maize (27-0). They fell to Campus 38-10 on Sept. 9.

A scheduled Sept. 16 game against Wichita Southeast was postponed because of the Sedgwick County boil water advisory, leaving Derby idle for two weeks before the home opener. Chadwick said the layoff hurt his team's momentum.

Against Maize South on Wednesday, the Mavericks scored on a fourth-down conversion midway through the first quarter and added a second touchdown for a 14-0 halftime lead. Derby's defense answered with a goal-line stand in the second quarter and four consecutive stops that kept Maize South off the board through the third quarter.

The Mavericks broke through with back-to-back scoring drives in the fourth quarter to push the final to 27-0. Ava Hanson grabbed an interception late in the game for a bright spot on the defensive side.

Chadwick said the defense keeps the team in every game but wore down in the fourth quarter. He pointed to Hanson's interception as something the program can build on.

At the season's midpoint, Chadwick identified quarterbacks Holland Lentz and Brentli Drum as central to the offense's growth. Drum connected with Shelby Bamms for the first touchdown in program history during the Sept. 2 opener against Maize South.

Derby plays Wichita Heights at Maize High School on Monday, Sept. 28, at 5 p.m.