Powder Puff may be a thing of the past now that the San Diego Section has embarked on its first official girls flag football season.
A whopping total of 44 schools plan to field teams for the section’s inaugural season, including all 13 Metro Conference schools.
Teams are scheduled to kick off league play on Sept. 5. A few non-league games have preceded that date.
San Ysidro engaged in the first-ever game in section history at Clairemont on Aug. 14 and hosted its first home game on Aug. 17 against Kearny.
San Ysidro defeated Clairemont, 20-0, and Kearny, 40-6, for a history-making 2-0 start.
Rules of the game
Games are played by seven players on each team on an 80-yard-long by 40-yard-wide field with first-down markers set every 20 yards. Teams have four downs to make it from marker to marker.
Games are two running 20-minute halves. Breaks occur only in the final two minutes of each half, plus a five-minute halftime. Games are likely to be completed in an hour to allow for multiple games to be played at each venue.
Touchdowns are worth six points, but no kicking conversions will be attempted. Instead, the ball will be placed on the five-yard line for one-point conversion attempts (on regular plays) and on the 10-yard line for two-point attempts.
The quarterback may run the ball only once on a series of downs. There will be no kick-offs.
No blocking or violent contact, especially interference with receivers, will be allowed. Fumbles are dead when the ball touches the ground.
Everyone is an eligible receiver to denote the offensive nature of the game.
Names of the game
The Lady Cougars definitely made a name for themselves with the intrepid victories.
Senior Victoria Figueroa led the Lady Cougars with 161 passing yards and three touchdowns in the season opener while sophomore Kristine Fradiquela (four catches, 76 yards) caught two scoring passes and senior Amaya Moreno (three catches, 40 yards) had one touchdown reception. Figueroa completed 11 of 20 passing attempts.
Sophomore Isabelle Cruz and senior Savannah Duenas were each credited with seven points in the game.
San Ysidro tallied 204 rushing yards, led by Amaya with four carries for 54 yards. Junior Bryanna Ortiz broke away on one run for 30 yards while Fradiquela had one carry for 20 yards.
Junior Paola Gonzalez led San Ysidro with four defensive stops, including one sack, while sophomore Mia Gonzalez had one interception.
Figueroa completed nine of 15 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns in San Ysidro’s second gridiron conquest while senior Julianna Romo completed one touchdown pass.
Fradiquela showcased her speed and determination to score with two catches for 90 yards, including a 65-yard romp through the Lady Komets’ secondary, while Duenas had four catches for 69 yards, also with a touchdown.
Moreno scored once on a 27-yard completion while Gonzalez (two catches, 19 yards) scored one touchdown.
Duenas and junior Evelyn Estrada led the defense with three stops apiece while junior Alyzette Sierra had two sacks. Four players had interceptions: junior Yareli Del Rio (65 yards), junior Isabella Ulloa (18 yards), Ortiz (15 yards) and sophomore Claire Maala (one yard).
The Lady Cougars rushed for 89 yards, with Ortiz (two carries, 33 yards) and senior Leslie Aguirre (two carries, 27 yards) each breaking loose for 25-yard gains. Moreno had two carries for 29 yards.
Duenas led the San Ysidro scoring parade with nine points, followed by Fradiquela with seven points and Moreno, Del Rio, Gonzalez and Ortiz each with six points.
In two games, Figueroa has passed for 371 yards and six touchdowns without an interception while Fradiquela has amassed 166 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
SYHS head coach Toni Canale, who has made the transition from boys football to help jump-start this new sport, said enthusiasm remains high as the season has kicked off.
The numbers may surprise some people.
“I had over 40 plus girls out in the summer and for tryouts,” Canale said. “Girls that play every sport have come out: volleyball, cross country, cheer, softball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse and even track & field. The first couple of days there was a lot of teaching, but they have picked up the game and love it.
“I think what is cool is these girls understand that there is no opportunity for them to play flag at the college level but they know that with them playing, they are paving the way for future girls to play the sport.”
As a new sport, start-up costs for the Sweetwater Union High School District and the section have been significant. Each team was provided with 10 footballs, 30 home and away uniforms, and a team set of flags.
Officials may have underestimated interest. Hilltop High School had nearly 50 girls turn out.
“That makes us 20 sets of uniforms short and we will have problems suiting girls up for games because of the lack of uniforms,” Hilltop High School head coach John Salts explained.“At this time, our only big obstacle is funding. Hilltop is currently fund-raising and seeking community sponsorships/donations in order to purchase additional uniforms and to build upon for the future.”
Interested parties may contact Salts at john.salts@sweetwaterschools.org
In the meantime, the season goes on.
Christina Murguia serves as head coach for the fledgling Otay Ranch team.
An icon at Castle Park High School where she earned honors as the first female in the section to earn four letters in three sports (volleyball, basketball, softball) during her prep career (1988-91), Murguia, who went on to play women’s basketball at San Diego State University, is a staunch supporter of the newest CIF sport. She has been pleasantly greeted by an enthusiastic turnout of 46 girls (24 on varsity and 22 on junior varsity).
“It’s definitely different now with social media,” she said. “When I played there wasn’t a button to press to watch video of the other teams.”
Murguia, whose cousins include football standouts Zeke and Moses Moreno and Jesse Matthews, knows what it feels like to be on the gridiron after playing three seasons of women’s professional tackle football with the San Diego Sunfire (two years) and San Diego Surge (one year) at quarterback, tight end and long-snapper.
“It was a dream come true,” she said. “Football has always been my favorite.”
Now the spotlight will shine on a new generation of aspiring female football players.
“We were the kids who played in the street and got dirty,” Murguia recalled of her youth. “We’re excited to make history.”
Teams are permitted a maximum of 20 contests per season and multiple games can be played at the same venue. Games may also be spread throughout the week and more than one game per week is possible.
Each team in the Metro Conference will host at least one game. League membership includes Bonita Vista, Eastlake, Grossmont, Mater Dei Catholic, Olympian and Otay Ranch in the Mesa League; Castle Park, Chula Vista, Hilltop and Sweetwater in the South Bay League; and Mar Vista, Montgomery, San Ysidro and Southwest in the Pacific League.
The conference tournament schedule kicks off Tuesday, Sept. 5. Highlights include three Mesa League games at Otay Ranch High School and two South Bay League-Pacific League crossover games at San Ysidro and Southwest high schools, respectively.
Mesa League games include Grossmont-Eastlake at 3:30 p.m., Bonita Vista-Olympian at 5 p.m. and Mater Dei Catholic-Otay Ranch at 6:30 p.m.
Games at San Ysidro High School include Hilltop-San Ysidro at 3:30 p.m. and Montgomery-Chula Vista at 5 p.m. Games at Southwest High School include Sweetwater-Southwest at 3:30 p.m. and Castle Park-Mar Vista at 5 p.m.
The schedule continues with multiple game dates through Oct. 24, followed by playoffs.
Teams have been working hard in preparation for the start of league play.
“We are very excited here at Hilltop to have this opportunity to be a part of the inaugural season of girls flag football at the CIF level,” Salts said. “The ladies on the team are excited to be a part of history as well as to set the foundation for the future of this sport here at Hilltop High. Team pride is exceptionally high as well as the knowledge that they are setting the expectations for the future.
“As the coach, I can not be more proud of the ladies who made the decision to try something new and came out to join us this season. The attitude, work ethic, desire to learn and improve, only add to the fun that we are having each day in practice sessions. The sense of school pride is amazing to see from the athletes, to the coaches, all the way up to the principal himself, who has made many trips to the practice facility and around campus calling out the girls for their excellence and hard work. It is an exciting atmosphere for the ladies here on campus.”
Top performers for the inaugural season include junior quarterback Neveah Matos (varsity softball catcher), senior running back/cornerback Mia Pacheco, senior receiver/linebacker Alejandra “Alexx” Yorba, sophomore linebacker Izabella “Pixie” Aceves, sophomore quarterback/linebacker Elyse Guerra, junior defensive back Olivia Grant, junior safety Korina Luna and junior running back Carolina Villalpando.
Matos, Pacheco, Yorba and Grant serve as team captains.
Salts said team chemistry is a big plus for this foundation-laying group.
“Our team leaders have taken it upon themselves to really take charge with the mindset of team first and are out there daily leading by example,” the Hilltop coach said. “Mia Pacheco, Alexx Yorba, and Naveah Matos have stepped up since Day One as natural leaders, bringing this squad together as a family. With Olivia Grant stepping up as the defensive captain, she keeps all the girls on their toes and ready for action.”
Hilltop on offense has a four-pronged attack led by quarterback Matos whose arm strength can rival the opposing boys quarterbacks, according to Salts. “Her poise in the pocket without getting rattled by the rush is something that can not be taught,” he said. “She is fearless and this has positively impacted the players around her.
“With a receiving threat short and deep in Alexx Yorba, look for these two to put up some serious numbers this year. Alexx has the hands and speed combined with the no fear attitude that propels her into one of the league’s elite receivers.
“On the ground level, the Lancers are led by senior running back Mia Pacheco. With her lighting speed and ability to read the defense, Mia has already garnered praise from opposing coaches and fear from the defense.
“Elyse Guerra is the lone Lancer with previous club flag football experience and brings that to the mix. She is a triple threat who can line up at quarterback and sling the ball down field, can roll out in play action and, with her ability to see the entire field, she can tuck the ball and use her speed to take it on the run. She is also a defensive specialist who can read the developing plays and is commonly seen in the mix for most plays.”
Salts calls Aceves is the team’s “dynamo.”
“Definitely the heart of the team with her loving charm but fierce desire to wreak havoc on the field,” the Hilltop coach assessed. Combined with incredible speed and out of this world willpower, Pixie will be seen on both sides of the ball either grabbing first downs or driving opposing quarterbacks mad with her never-stop mindset going after the flag.”
Salts said Luna and Villalpando’s recent addition to the team bring track skills to the mix with their extremely fast bust of speed abilities.”
Salts feels more than comfortable with the initial turnout to mold it into something special – and lasting.
“As they learn the game and the plays, we are expecting to see great things from them this season and into next,” he said. “Olivia Grant will bring her skill set from soccer over to the defense and her ability to cover the opponent while also keeping her teammates focused on the task at hand will be one of our keys to success this season.
“Our biggest goal this season is first and foremost to have a great time, introducing the ladies to this new sport and building it up for the future. Our ladies are determined to set a strong foundation for the future while also challenging each team on game days.
“Hilltop will definitely be a contending team in league this season with the leadership and athletic talent on display. Turning that into more will rest on the leaders and the ladies themselves: Their continued focus, dedication, and desire to improve. If what we have seen right now is any indicator, then we see a bright future ahead for Hilltop girls flag football.”
