Flag football team goes undefeated
A local girls flag football team – consisting of mostly players from Scripps Ranch – completed an undefeated season to capture the championship in the girls third and fourth grade division in the spring season of the Friday Night Lights Flag Football North San Diego league.
The players finished the regular season at 8-0, then won two playoff games as the number 1 seed in postseason play to end up with a perfect 10-0 record.
“On average, our girls scored 26.5 points a game and they allowed 8 points on defense. So, the played a
great comprehensive game each game on both sides of the ball,” said head coach Mike Highlander.
He attributes the team’s success to both the intelligence and athleticism of the players. Despite their young age, the team members grasped an assortment of defensive pass coverages and mastered about 20 plays on offense.
“The girls were able to learn something on a Wednesday and apply that on Fridays,” said Highlander, whose triplets were playing on the championship the team.
In addition, the players were very team oriented.
“Their attitude was great. … It was their first year,” Highlander said. “It was just a magical season. They were just fantastic.”
Andrew McCabe was co-coach this season.
Seven out of the team’s nine players attend Jerabek Elementary School in Scripps Ranch. Other teams in the division were from Carmel Mtn., Rancho Penasquitos, Escondido, Poway and Rancho Bernardo. All games were played at Rancho Bernardo Community Center.
The team members were awarded championship rings and neck chains for coming out on top this season.