While boys have been playing the CIF sport of football for many years, there is a new look to the gridiron this school year.

Patrick Henry High School for the first time is fielding a girls’ flag football team.

Under the direction of head coach Alona “Lonii” Harper, the Lady Patriots are part of the inaugural season of action at the CIF level.

PHHS will be part of the San Diego City Conference, which includes Morse High, Scripps Ranch, Point Loma, Mira Mesa, University City, Cathedral, and San Diego High.

“Like most teams in our conference, my coaching staff and I have just finished our tryouts with over 60 participants,” Harper stated. “The amount of talent and competitiveness was amazing. What was even more impressive was the tremendous effort and positive attitudes they brought onto the field every morning of tryouts.”

Given this is year one at the high school level, Harper and her staff are looking forward to mentoring, training, learning, growing and having fun.

“We have already identified many of our strengths and weaknesses, which has given us a better understanding of our team, how we function, and what we need to do to accomplish our end goal,” Harper went on to say.

According to Harper, flag football for girls in the San Diego area is already growing.

“I have had the pleasure of coaching in one of the first all-girls leagues called SheRocks San Diego competing in versus league and tournament games with girls from Los Angeles, Florida, Arizona, and even Mexico. Additionally, I had the honor of being the head coach of the Pershing Middle School Lady Panthers in the inaugural season of SDUSD Middle School Flag Football where we earned the title of undefeated champions for the girls’ division. So, as you can see it is and will continue to grow, not just in San Diego, but worldwide and I am honored to be a part of it.”

As PHHS Athletic Director Cody Clark noted, “Flag football is a first-year CIF sport and we are very excited to add it to our Patriot athletics program. With the spring 2024 addition of girls’ beach volleyball we will have a total of 34 programs we offer for our student-athletes.”

Patrick Henry’s first girls’ flag football contest is slated for Tuesday, Aug. 29 at University City High (4 p.m.).

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