Rock Island’s Alleman rocks flags and football

(Left) One of the Top 10 entries for the Illinois State Flag Redesign Competition has been submitted by Alleman High grad Brady Senatra. (Right) Alleman alumni Charles Jagusah – here holding Orange Bowl jacket – was Notre Dame’s starting left tackle in the College Football Playoff National Championship game Jan. 20.
ROCK ISLAND – Flag football is a growing sport worldwide, sponsored by the NFL and set to be part of the 2028 Olympics. However, a different combination of flag and football has been making news for Alleman High School alumni in recent days.
That young man, the sky’s the limit.” – Fritz Dieudonne, Charles Jagusah’s Alleman football coach
Charles Jagusah (’23), played for Notre Dame against Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship game Monday, Jan. 20 in Atlanta.
OVERCAME ‘SEASON-ENDING’ INJURY
Although Notre Dame lost, the Fighting Irish proved their name again as they came back from a 31-7 deficit mid-way through the third quarter to claw their way back to a 34-23 result by game’s end.

Charles Jaguasah (Alleman ’23), Notre Dame left tackle, is pictured in his Alleman High School football pullover.
No one proved that fighting spirit more than Jagusah. After sustaining what was expected to be a season-ending pectoral injury during training camp, he saw his first start of the year at left tackle against the powerful Ohio State defense.
CLEARED PATH FOR QB TD
Jagusah was singled out for particular praise by ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit for his role in the first touchdown of the game, when he cleared a path for Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard to waltz into the end zone virtually untouched.
As a sophomore, he has a few more years to help the Irish “close the deal” on a national championship.
Fritz Dieudonne, Jagusah’s former Alleman High School coach, wouldn’t be a bit surprised. Dieudonne was quoted by KWQC-TV of Davenport as saying, “That young man, the sky’s the limit.”
And while the “flag” in flag football refers to a fabric attached to the ball carrier’s waist, Alleman grad Brady Senatra (‘24) has designed the type of flag that waves over our classrooms and our courtrooms.
You can vote once a day until February 14.” – Chris Senatra, Dad of state flag design competitor Brady Senatra
AMONG TOP 10 OF 4,800
Senatra submitted one of the 4,800 entries put forward in the Illinois State Flag Redesign Competition. His submission has been selected by the Illinois Flag Commission as one of the Top 10 finalists.
Public voting for the State flag on the flag commission website continues until Feb. 14: https://apps.ilsos.gov/stateflag/
On the website, Brady describes the flag’s blue stripes as indicating waterways, while the white stripes represent industry, commerce and agriculture. The star design in the middle band is comprised of 20 smaller stars surrounding a larger star, referencing Illinois’ position as the twenty-first state.

Brady Senatra (Alleman ’24) designed one of the Top 10 entries in the Illinois State Flag Redesign Competition.
As Chris Senatra, Brady’s proud Dad added on the Alleman Facebook site, “You can vote once a day until February 14.”