RUSKIN, Fla. — Looking to emerge from the shadows of their Hillsborough County contemporaries Alonso and Robinson, the Lennard Longhorns are putting in the work in preparation for the postseason.

“It will pay off in these next few games, cause this is kind of what we came here to do,” said senior quarterback Abby Elwell. “It’s what we’ve been preparing for.”

The Longhorns starting quarterback since her freshman year, Elwell has been working to get her team on track for greatness. Playing in the Tampa Bay Area where flag football rules, the bar has always been set high.

Last season, Lennard took a big step toward inclusion when they upset eight-time state champions Robinson. It was the Knights’ first loss at home since 2012, and it gave Elwell and her teammates the boost they needed.

“I think it’s just the fact that we are like a family,” Elwell said. “We love all hanging out with each other, playing with each other, playing for each other. So I think that’s really a big thing for us."

Elwell and her fellow senior teammates got their flowers before their final regular season game. Each of the seniors was celebrated for their contributions to the Longhorns program.

In Elwell's four years, she posted some impressive numbers on and off the field, including a 7.56 weighted GPA. And her more than 15,000 passing yards will be a mark that will stand for quite some time.

“These four years have just flown by so fast and I can’t believe that they are almost over,” she said. “Like, some of the best four years.”

The University of Florida is next up for Elwell. And she plans on continuing her flag football journey with the Gators back-to-back national champion club team. But first, she’s soaking up every last second of her time with the Lennard Longhorns.

“I’ve gained so many things that I will use in my life,” she said. “But also, I think the No. 1 thing that I love about this experience that I’ve had is the team and really like the family that I’ve created just by being here.”