Flag football ‘alive and well’ in Sacramento. Players and teams to watch in 2025
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- CIF reports 83% rise in statewide flag football participation from 2023 to 2024.
- Rule changes align CIF play with national standards, altering game speed and flow.
- Strong Sacramento programs like Del Oro and Ponderosa dominate early 2025 rankings.
While much of the high school sports focus in the early part of the fall rests upon the Friday night lights, there is still plenty to be excited about on the gridiron during the rest of the week.
Girls flag football is back in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section for its third season as one of the fastest-growing sports in the country.
“Flag football is alive and well,” said Rocklin coach Ryan Spears, who helped organize and host a 72-team jamboree Aug. 16 in Placer County. “Tons of teams, tons of talent. We’re now in Year 3 and it’s just grown bigger and better.”
According to the California Interscholastic Federation’s 2025 high school sports participation census, flag football was by far the sport that showed the most robust growth from year to year — boys or girls.
With a reported 19,921 participants statewide in 2024, flag football boomed in its second official season in the CIF with an 83% increase over 2023.
New rules in flag
The game is ever-evolving with a few major rule changes as the CIF syncs up to the national flag football rulebook established by the National Federation of State High School Associations.
Instead of 24-minute halves, there will now be four 12-minute quarters. There is no longer a 7-second pass clock in which the quarterback must get rid of the ball. There is no limit on how long the QB can run or hold the ball, but a pass rusher is also now allowed to begin their pursuit just 1 yard off the ball instead of 7. The no-run zone is no longer in play.
Teams are now allowed to physically punt the ball on fourth down. Before, a punt was called by the coach and automatically placed on the opposite 20-yard line. Now, players will have a free kick from the spot of fourth down and the receiving team will be able to return the kick, bringing field position heavily into play.
“We’ve had to make some adjustments,” said Ponderosa coach Tyson Escobar, last year’s Sacramento Bee Coach of the Year. “Everything’s gotta be quick… It’s almost like a first-year sport three years in a row.”
College scholarships are available
Ferrum College in Virginia has an aim to be a competitor at the NCAA Division II level with an eye for local talent. Its head coach is former Cordova High School flag coach Garrett Roth, who sized up local flag footballers with offers of playing collegiately.
Among those continuing their flag football careers at the next level at Ferrum include 2024 All Metro players Sam Pitzer (Del Oro), Breyana Kimmons (McClatchy), Zenallah Hatcher-Simmons (Del Campo) and Shayla Carter (Cordova).
Also continuing her flag football career is Del Campo grad Sophia Wright, who helped quarterback the Cougars to the Division III Sac-Joaquin Section championship last year. She’ll put her talents on display at Simpson University in Redding.
2024 season recap
The Del Oro Golden Eagles went back-to-back at the Division I level, going 22-2, and beating Oak Ridge in a thriller of a final.
Ponderosa came out of nowhere to go 25-0 and win the D-II title under Bee Player of the Year Brooklynn Nordquist and Escobar.
Del Campo (17-3) won the D-III title behind Defensive Player of the Year Zenallah Hatcher-Simmons, while Colfax came up just short in the D-IV title game against Hughson.
30 players to watch in 2025
(Players listed in alphabetical order.)
Kamrynn Blevins, Liberty Ranch, Jr.
A section champion in basketball, Blevins helped the Galt school compile a 14-4 mark and an unbeaten 12-0 campaign to win the Sierra Valley Conference.
Caelyn Campos, Del Oro, So.
As a freshman, she led D-I champion Del Oro with 396 rushing yards and added 392 receiving yards.
Chloe Champas, Del Oro, Sr.
The leading pass catcher for Del Oro with 959 yards and 15 scores through the air.
Emily Cory, West Park, Jr.
Has a natural presence at the quarterback position for the Panthers, who were the co-Metro League champs.
Gabriella Devlin, Christian Brothers, Jr.
Can play pretty much any position on offense, accounting for 24 total touchdowns for the Falcons.
Bella Escobar, Ponderosa, Sr.
A key weapon at receiver for a 25-0 Bruin team in 2024, racking up 1,056 receiving yards and 21 TDs.
Ellie Escobar, Ponderosa, Sr.
If your name is Escobar, you’re likely to have a major impact on the Ponderosa campus. She scored 10 receiving TDs last year and has gotten off to a fast start in scrimmages in 2025.
Lola Fox, St. Francis, So.
With more than 3,400 passing yards as a freshman, Fox made an instant impact in the Sierra Foothill League.
Stephanie Freas, Ponderosa, Sr.
The defensive force for Ponderosa was in the section’s top 10 in flag pulls and led the 25-0 Bruins with 115 tackles while adding 11 interceptions.
Kyla Friedrich, Sac Adventist, Jr.
Went from eight TD passes and 20 interceptions in her freshman year to 55 TDs and just nine INTs during her sophomore year.
Marisela Gaeta, Christian Brothers, Sr.
Defensive stopper for Christian Brothers, which won a section crown in 2023. Led the Falcons with 102 tackles, five sacks and threw in eight interceptions.
Amaya Grant, Woodcreek, Sr.
If she gets the ball in the open field, good luck catching her. She had 883 receiving yards with a whopping 25 touchdowns.
Summer Hennessey, Woodcreek, Jr.
Part of a potent receiver corps at Woodcreek, Hennessey tallied 1,075 yards and nine touchdowns through the air last year.
Savanna Hill, McClatchy, Jr.
Registered a reported section-leading 87 sacks for more than 370 yards lost in a breakout year for the Lions.
Taylor Jernigan, Christian Brothers, So.
Stepped in at QB as a freshman last year and shined for a multifaceted Falcons offense with 4,671 passing yards and 63 TDs.
Taliyah Johnson, Cordova, Sr.
Well-rounded, Johnson had 577 passing yards, 644 rushing yards and 368 receiving yards while totalling 65 tackles on defense.
Maycee Kirby, Del Oro, Jr.
As a sophomore, Kirby was seventh in the section with 17 sacks for the back-to-back section champion Golden Eagles.
Skyler Linehan, Rocklin, Sr.
Provides the lightning for a hungry Thunder squad with speed in the run game and good hands out of the backfield with 130 receptions.
Samantha MacNiven, Vacaville, Jr.
In a game that was dominated by the pass, MacNiven’s 1,626 rushing yards was second in the section in the category.
LaRay Mitchell, Rio Linda, Sr.
With 22 TD catches, Mitchell helped Rio Linda reach the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III semifinals.
Emily Morris, Dixon, Sr.
A big arm at QB for the Rams, who went 14-3 and earned a 2-seed in the Division IV playoffs.
Kate Myers, Pleasant Grove, Sr.
More than 2,100 passing yards and 49 TD tosses, more than 1,500 rushing yards with 16 more scores and 19 interceptions on defense.
Amanda Nazworth, Vista del Lago, Sr.
The glue that does it all for Vista del Lago. Can play any position and is primed for a big senior season.
Tayli Paeu-Lindgren, St. Francis, Jr.
A big time post player for the Troubies hoops team, her height authors a huge advantage in the passing game.
Bella Salais, Vacaville, Sr.
Led Vacaville to a 23-3 mark and an unbeaten 12-0 Monticello Empire League title with 3,864 passing yards and 70 touchdowns.
Rihanna Sharma, McClatchy, So.
Gathered 1,537 receiving yards, which was tops in the section among freshmen, and scored 22 touchdowns for the Lions.
Laurel Smart, Oak Ridge, Jr.
A major X-factor with 846 receiving yards and 19 TDs in helping the Trojans reach the Division I section final last year.
Hallie Tapuosi, Granite Bay, Jr.
The driving force defensively for Granite Bay was named the SFL’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
Rowan Thomas, Ponderosa, Sr.
Had a breakout junior year at receiver with the ability to catch passes leaping in the air, going to the ground and coming through in the clutch.
Daisy Throckmorton, McClatchy, Sr.
The reigning Bee Offensive Player of the Year, “Daisy Dimes” compiled a whopping 8,625 passing yards with 118 touchdowns for a 27-2 McClatchy squad.
The Bee’s Top 20
(Last year’s record in parentheses.)
1. Del Oro (22-2)
2. Oak Ridge (18-4)
3. McClatchy (27-2)
4. Ponderosa (25-0)
5. Del Campo (17-3)
6. Christian Brothers (18-5)
7. West Park (22-5)
8. Vacaville (23-3)
9. Woodcreek (18-4)
10. Granite Bay (13-7)
11. Pleasant Grove (15-4)
12. Dixon (14-3)
13. Liberty Ranch (14-4)
14. Colfax (15-1)
15. St. Francis (6-14)
16. Vista del Lago (6-8)
17. Antelope (18-9)
18. Rocklin (14-11)
19. Rio Linda (16-7)
20. Placer (9-11)
This story was originally published August 27, 2025 at 5:00 AM.