As a freshman, Kyah Davis stepped onto the Jurupa Valley High School gridiron as the only girl on the varsity football team.
Now a junior, she serves as varsity captain of the school’s first-ever girls flag football team and is happy to see other girls getting an opportunity to participate in the sport she’s loved since middle school.
“Going into a space where you are uplifted, supported, (and) you have people who have been through the same experiences as you as a girl on a school team…,” Kyah said. “I like having that a lot.”
This is the first season that all Jurupa Unified comprehensive high schools have girls flag football teams.
Patriot High School began offering the sport in 2024.
“It's great to have this sport resurge… so many girls are coming out,” Patriot High School Girls Flag Football Coach Giselle Kendall said. “It’s just exciting to see that excitement behind (girls flag football).”
Coach Kendall encourages all girls to try the sport, even if they have never played before.
“There are so many skills that can be applied. Girls from soccer, wrestling, track, softball… can all bring their skills. It gives a lot of opportunities.” Coach Kendall said.
Patriot High School seniors and varsity co-captains, Alana Carillo and Sadie Banuelos, are leaders on and off the field. As a Link Crew leader, Sadie serves as a role model to the freshman student-athlete group she mentors.
“I get to help them throughout (the year), because I know school and sports can be sometimes challenging,” Sadie said.
“I think being a role model on campus is important because it’s to a bigger audience; it’s the whole school instead of just like our team,” Alana said. “Everyone gets to see what you’re doing and how good of a role model you are, and they get to maybe follow after you.”
Rubidoux High School Varsity Captain
Alanna Campos takes the skills she’s learned from being a Spirit Commissioner in the Associated Student Body (ASB) onto the field for her first season playing flag football.
“I try to take initiative as a captain just as I do around campus,” Alanna said. “It was a bit difficult because it’s a brand new sport at our school, but I think being able to lead the girls… like our freshmen, it was pretty easy for me.”
RHS Coach Robert Uiagalelei is accustomed to coaching boys football, but this is his first time coaching girls flag football. He’s impressed with what he’s seen so far.
“It’s a learning curve. It’s the beginning for both of us,” said Coach Uiagalelei. “They’re very smart, very athletic (and) some of them can actually play better than the boys.”
Lucia Reyes, a freshman at Rubidoux High School and quarterback on the junior varsity team, played some flag football in elementary and middle school.
“I...
wanted to play girls flag football in high school and maybe college flag football, so that’s what I am pursuing,” said Lucia. “It feels pretty amazing to be playing high school football. There are more chances for college scholarships.”
In their first season, Rubidoux and Jurupa Valley High School are ready to compete and hopeful for their future in flag football.
“For (students) to see (the game) come to life has been a dream,” JVHS Coach Tatiana Gutierrez said. “It’s been a whirlwind, and we are enjoying it.”
“It’s a really great opportunity, and we have just been showing everything we have,” said JVHS Junior Taylor Caruso, who serves as captain of the junior varsity team. “Everything we do and come out to do is just a great opportunity to uplift ourselves and our teammates.”
As Coach Kendall closes out her final girls flag football season before her retirement, she hopes the sport can become available to all, she said.
“The most important thing that our school wants to do is to have availability," Coach Kendall said. “For every kid to find a place, to me, that is the legacy I hope for every program, but certainly it’s the legacy of this program.”
