The first season of girls flag football as a sanctioned sport in California was a smashing success in 2023, giving Bay Area girls a chance to excel with the pigskin in their hands.
The game is expected to grow in Year 2, with the Central Coast Section introducing league schedules and the North Coast Section boasting a 16-team playoff bracket.
“We are so excited to see how much it has grown in just one year,” San Ramon Valley coach Chad Cochran told the Bay Area News Group.
Flag football, which is played with no pads or helmets, had 10,832 girls participate during the 2023-24 school year. There are more storylines developing this fall as talented players are ready to shine as the season gets underway.
Here’s just a few …
Dynamic quarterbacks
Menlo School’s Ava Allen (2), shown here in a file photo, will lead Menlo School this season (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Flag football is a passing-oriented game, and like in the tackle version, the quarterback is the most important position. … With 49ers legend Steve Young as an assistant coach, Menlo School’s Ava Allen should be one of the Bay Area’s top passers as a sophomore. … Reigning West Alameda County Conference most valuable player Aaliyah Soderlund returns for Alameda and Elizabeth Westgate, also a senior, should put up big numbers for Mountain View. … A pair of freshmen – Deer Valley’s Lalo Assoau Fua and San Ramon Valley’s Gia Ryan – are expected to make an immediate impact. … Sophomores Kayla Lichaa of San Mateo and Northgate’s Symone Jewell are both dual-threats who can make plays with their arm and on the ground.
Dominant defenders
Most athletes play both sides of the ball in flag football, but some stand out from the rest as defenders. … Acalanes will rely on junior Maya Shoenhair, a returning first-team all-DAL selection, to replace a prolific class of graduates. … Las Lomas coach Tim Kruger is bullish about a defense that expects Bridget Dillon, Lauren Langmade, Ava Tuex and Elinor Matalon to be dominant. … Dublin’s Kate Long has sure hands on offense and defense. She could be a ballhawk for the Gaels. … On the Peninsula, Carlmont’s Samantha Tow and Los Altos’ Erin Jesensky are sophomores who should have big roles on defense this season.
Two-sport athletes
Oakland Tech quarterback Jhai Johnson, shown here in a file photo, led her team to a section title last year. (Joseph Dycus/Bay Area News Group)
Because flag football starts in August and ends in November, it provides an opportunity for students who play winter and spring sports to have an option to stay active in the fall. … Jhai Johnson – daughter of Ravens quarterback Josh Johnson – is a five-star prospect on Oakland Tech’s powerhouse basketball team and also moonlights as an equally-dominant force on Tech’s championship flag football team. … Hayden Hummel and Maya Yumiba were both starters on St. Francis’ CCS Open title-winning softball team and will be playmakers for the Lancers. … Maddie Smith is a tough defender for Amador Valley. She gets some of that grit from her experience in rugby. … Berkeley’s Kelly Wu and Freedom’s Brooklyn Pierce are stellar soccer and flag football players. … When she’s not gashing defenses as a ballcarrier, Alexa Reyna-Amezcua is a big part of Hillsdale’s lacrosse and wrestling teams.
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Big-time playmakers
In a game where contact is illegal, all it takes is one great move and a quick first step to score a touchdown. … Menlo-Atherton quarterback Ryleigh Longaker will throw to two explosive wideouts in Addison McCombs and Sara Nordlund. … Menlo School’s Sophie Housser is the team’s top target as a junior, and next door at Sacred Heart Prep, Ellie Shen is back after being named team MVP. … Over in the East Bay, Berkeley’s Evita Escamila Geisler is an elusive ballcarrier, and Acalanes’ Hailey Chelemedos and Heritage’s Eden Enoru are threats to score every time they touch the ball. … Lincoln-San Jose senior Cece Giguere scored 29 touchdowns as a running back and had 22 sacks for good measure.