When Mount Notre Dame senior football defensive back Evie Schoolfield was suspended from classes in November, she tried to figure out why.
As she told Fox19's Mike Shell, the reason soon became apparent.
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She was Cincinnati BengalsNominee for the Girls National Footballer of the Year award for the Maxwell Football Club. Earlier this week, she learned she was one of four American Football Conference finalists and one of eight nominees for the award.
Schoolfield led the Cougars to the Bengals' second straight postseason championship and a berth in the 2025 state tournament. She had 2,200 passing yards and 45 passing touchdowns in 2025, more than double her 2024 totals (1,000 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns).
“Evie has set the gold standard for quarterback play in our flagship football league,” her coach Desmon Gault Sr. wrote in a player profile submitted for her nomination. “A true field general, she has consistently produced elite performances, averaging an astounding three touchdowns per game and being the undisputed cornerstone of our team's success this season. Her leadership, poise and fighting spirit elevated everyone around her.”
MND's Evie Schoolfield (15) drops back to pass during the game against St. Ursula's on Friday, March 28, 2025.
Schoolfield has many accomplishments under her belt: 2025 Bengals Flag Football Player of the Year; 2025 Maxwell NFL Football Player of the Year nominee; 2025 Maxwell NFL Football Player of the Year Top 8 finalist; 2026 NFL Flag Football Pro Bowl Nominee; 2024 and 2025 Bengals postseason champion; 2025 Enquirer Player of the Year, MND Most Valuable Player, 2024 and 2025 MND Captains' Award and 2025 State Semifinalist.
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In November, the Bengals gave Evie tickets to February's Super Bowl in San Francisco and another special gift: her very own Evie Schoolfield Bengals jersey.
Schoolfield received eight college scholarship offers, most of which came from the Cincinnati football player. Her offers came from Lindsey Wilson College, Heidelberg University, Ripon College, Hendrix College, Lourdes University, St. Francis University, Defiance College and Marian University.
Mount Notre Dame's 2025 Flag Football Team (from left): Front, Dee Davis, Grace Bodkins, Evie Schoolfield, Alison Beckenhaupt, Addison McFadden, Samantha Freese; bottom: Kaylee Watson, Elizabeth Herzner, Leah Johnson, Tess Brown, Peyton Farkas and Aaliyah Smedley.
Because serving others is important to her, she regularly volunteers at her church festival and works as a coach for Cincy Swish Spirit, a program that teaches basketball to children with disabilities.
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Off the field, she is a member of the National Honor Society, Latin Honor Society and the Adopt a Sister program, maintaining a 3.7 GPA.
Over the summer, she organized and ran a free soccer camp for boys and girls ages 3 to 8 at her elementary school. St. Thomas More School at Eastgate as part of its Capstone Project, aimed at encouraging the next generation of athletes in flag football.
“When I was a kid, I always wanted to play, whether it was soccer,” Evie told Fox19. “I didn't even know flag football existed. So you just do it and you never know where you'll be in five years, like, I never knew I'd be here if you asked me as an eighth grader.”
Her coach said she led her team to its first city title in 2024 and again in 2025 before a state semifinal run.
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“Her impact on the program is undeniable and cements her legacy as one of the most accomplished and influential players in our football city's history,” Gault wrote. “Simply put, no one deserves the title of Player of the Year anymore.” She is the epitome of leadership, skill and the true spirit of the game.”
Maxwell Soccer Club, which also presents the Chuck Bednarik Award to the college's top defensive player, among other awards, announced the eight finalists for the 2025 National Girls Soccer Player of the Year Award on Dec. 23.
They selected four finalists from each conference. From this group, the national selection committee will select the National Player of the Year. Maxwell Football Club will announce the winner on January 10th.
This article originally appeared on the Cincinnati Enquirer: Maxwell Football Club honors Schoolfield MND as POY National Finalist
