GRIDLEY, CA (YSBC) - The Gridley Bulldogs girls flag football team concluded the first regular season of the program when they played at Oakmont on Wednesday, Oct. 22.

Gridley was the only Northern Section that had a girls flag football team this year, so they competed against schools for the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section and were a part of the Pioneer Valley League.

The Bulldogs played 12 games total and they were all Pioneer Valley League contests. Gridley went .500 at worse pending the result of Wednesday’s contest against Oakmont.

Bulldogs head coach John Cooprider expressed to Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports that he is proud of everything the squad has accomplished this season.

The Gridley Bulldogs celebrate their 12-6 victory over Oakmont in double overtime on Sept. 29. Photo by Steven Bryla

Cooprider said that starting a first-year program there was going to be challenges along the way, but one thing that was never going to be questioned was the amount of support the girls gained game-by-game.

When the Bulldogs hosted their first game on Sept. 8, the “Boneyard” stands were packed and Gridley won their first game in a dominant 26-6 victory over Center.

Cooprider said that the support that the team has gotten from the community has been amazing and it’s special to be the only Northern Section team with a flag football team.

After multiple conversations between YSBC and Cooprider, there are multiple other NS schools hoping to implement a flag football team as it’s also grown in the Yuba-Sutter area as four of the six regional SJS schools have flag football teams.

Gridley’s Angelina Bandilla Tinoco (15) attempts to make a tackle on Oct. 15 in the Bulldogs’ loss to Colfax. Photo by Chris Pedigo

Cooprider expressed that some of his favorite memories on the field included close victories as they have had a third of their games within a single possession.

There isn’t a clear definition if the Bulldogs will compete in the SJS playoffs that begin on Tuesday, Oct. 29. 

Gridley has not been ranked in any of the SJS rankings on MaxPreps, but based on the most up to date rankings on Monday, Oct. 20, the Bulldogs were ranked 69th in the Sacramento area.

Cooprider told YSBC that it would be a great experience for the Bulldogs and would still compete.

If Wednesday was the final game of the season for Gridley, Cooprider said that it’s been a blast coaching the girls this year and is excited to see how the program grows and the sport grows overtime in the NS.

The CIF SJS flag football brackets are scheduled to be announced this weekend. 

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