The Gridley Bulldogs Girls Flag Football team won their first game on Sept. 8 26-6 against the Center Cougars. Gridley is the lone Northern Section team with flag football. Photo by Steven Bryla 

GRIDLEY, CA (YSBC) – The "Boneyard" was packed, loud and witnessed history on Monday, Sept. 8 as the Gridley Bulldogs Girls Flag Football team celebrated their first win for the program against the Center Cougars 26-6.

Flag football is in the third season competitively in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) of high school sports and Gridley is the only Northern Section school with a girls flag football team.

Bulldogs head coach John Cooprider told Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports that he has been around the game of football for as long as he can remember and when the opportunity arose to coach flag football, he thought it was a no brainer.

Gridley sophomore quarterback Delanie Cloyd (6) attempts to split defenders and rushes towards the end zone in the Bulldogs' 26-6 win on Sept. 8 against Center. Photo by Steven Bryla

The Bulldogs currently have 18 athletes on their roster and he hopes the interest continues to grow throughout the years for flag football.

Gridley lit up the scoreboard first with eight minutes left in the first as sophomore linebacker Delanie Cloyd intercepted a pass and ran it back 32-yards to the end zone on the opening drive of the game for a touchdown.

Cloyd had two interceptions in the win and was making plays all over the field defensively. Cloyd told YSBC that playing flag football is a great opportunity to bond with teammates from other sports. 

"We're all competitive and know how to get one another hyped, so it makes it easier to be calm before we play," Cloyd said. 

Gridley's Nayelli Romo (3) goes for a tackle in the Bulldogs' 26-6 win over Center on Sept. 8. Photo by Steven Bryla

She added that her and her teammates were nervous, but the coaching staff kept them locked in the game and they were able to loosen up.

The defense for the Bulldogs shined again on their next defensive possession as Sophia Moran had her own defensive touchdown as she returned an interception to the end zone from the 32 and extended the Gridley lead 13-0.

The Bulldogs forced their third and final turnover of the night as Cloyd picked off her second pass of the night.

Gridley junior running back Natalie Mariscal scored on a four-yard rushing touchdown within three minutes of the first half and made it a 20-point lead after she caught a pass from Cloyd in the back corner of the end zone for the extra point.

Mariscal expressed to YSBC that they have been building the bond as a team for the last month and a half as they began practice in late July/early August. 

Gridley junior running back Natalie Marshal (8) evades a flag pull on her way to the end zone in the Bulldogs' 26-6 victory against Center on Sept. 8. Photo by Steven Bryla

"Weve done team dinners and we had a lot of fun of going out to other flag football games in the area," Mariscal said.

Center put a quick drive downfield and cut the Bulldogs deficit to 14 after they scored a touchdown in the final minute of the opening half. 

Mariscal scored the final Gridley touchdown in the final seconds of the third quarter after she rushed the ball in from 15-yards out.

Cooprider said that he was proud of the girls for their performance in the win and said that he expected mistakes and told the Bulldogs it was ok, they are going to happen. 

"We're growing every day to get better,"Cooprider said. 

He added that one of the main points he is continuously going to keep reiterating to them is that this is also "the girls" field too and they get to have their special moments on it instead of only on Friday nights.

Gridley will hit the road on Monday, Sept 22 as they will play at Colfax with a scheduled start time of 6 p.m.

For more updated sports content on all local volleyball, flag football and football action, go to ysbcsports.com.

Gridley sophomore quarterback Melanie Cloyd (6) throws a pass attempt on an extra point during the Bulldogs' 26-6 win over center on Sept. 8. Photo by Steven Bryla