Upland, CA—Two years since its induction as an official CIF sport, girls flag football made its debut on Saturday, Aug. 9 at the first annual Upland High Flag Football Tournament.
The overwhelming feeling from the team was best summed up by junior Madison Page. Page, one of the team leaders, said, “To me, being a part of this first time experience was phenomenal. I felt like anything I did would be put into the history books.”
When they open the history books someday, it will explain how their inaugural season opened with two games: a morning match up against Alta Loma High School and an afternoon match against Victor Valley High School.
The Yellowjackets lost both games, the first 24-0 and the second 12-0, but the experience gave them room for growth and a taste for game action.
“The kids played with a lot of heart, even though the score was lopsided,” said head coach German Lira. “They played all the way through the last whistle.”
On the field, the team is led by Page and senior Mia Campos. Other notable players include: juniors Ivanna Gomez, Heidi Alarcon and Nevaeh Menendez, and sophomore Dalissa Rosas.
In the first game against Alta Loma, Colton looked nervous throughout the first half, struggling to gain any momentum on offense, and giving up 18 points on the defensive end. In the second half, they found their composure and held Alta Loma scoreless until a last minute touchdown gave the Braves their fourth score of the game.
After a break, the Yellowjackets took the field against the Victor Valley Jackrabbits, who had lost their morning game to Bishop Amat 17-0. The game was a defensive back-and-forth, with neither side wanting to give an inch until late in the fourth quarter, when Victor Valley was able to put two touchdowns on the board, taking the game 12-0.
Mia Campos remains positive. “I have never played flag football before so it was fun just being out there with my girls. We didn’t win—not the outcome we wanted, but I think it was fun for our first time on the field.”
This week, Colton will return for the second weekend of the Upland Tournament. They will face Chino High at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16. Their regular season will begin at Cajon High on Aug. 18 at 3:45 p.m.
