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  Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) works to get though Corona Del Mar’s line in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos flag football celebrates their win over Fountain Valley in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos girls flag football players get their game jerseys in Los Alamitos, CA, on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Alice DeLouche (11) tries to outrun Corona Del Mar’s Erika Wein (7) in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) laughs with teammates during flag football senior night in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ coach Laura Hart, left, and quarterback Rylee Robles go over plays against Lakewood High School in Los Alamitos, CA, on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kennedy Bowe (1) goes after a pass against Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  The Los Alamitos flag football team joins competitors during the opening of the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos enters the field during flag football senior night in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Charlotte Baliwag (3) grabs a flag from Fountain Valley’s Adriana Gordon (30) in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) carries the ball against Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ flag football warms up before taking on Corona del Mar in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) celebrates a touchdown against Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Charlotte Baliwag (3) and Katelynn Sheffield (25) celebrate a touchdown against Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Bryn Pagett (32) goes after the ball against Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ quarterbacks Rylee Robles (24) shares a laugh with teammates as they take on Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Charlotte Baliwag (3) holds on to the ball against Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kennedy Bowe (1) and Kassidy Beach (15) celebrate a touchdown against Fountain Valley in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ girls flag football prepares to take on Lakewood High School in Los Alamitos, CA, on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Charlotte Baliwag (3) gets caught between two Highland defender during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kennedy Bowe (1) and Kassidy Beach (15) go after a pass intended for Corona Del Mar in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kennedy Bowe (1) works to remove a flag from Fountain Valley in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) goes up for the ball with Angela Herrera (19) against Corona Del in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Claire Daedelow (17) and Highland’s Leah Harris (4) battle for the ball during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Mackenzie McNeil (2) warms up before their game against Corona del Mar in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) gets high-fives for scoring a touchdown against Edison High in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) scores a touchdown against Lakewood High School in Los Alamitos, CA, on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Sanaa Trotter (12) catches the ball against Edison High in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Charlotte Baliwag (3) carries the ball against Edison High in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kalice McCutcheon (26) looks to move past Corona Del Mar in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos quarterback Rylee Robles looks for an open receiver against Corona Del Mar in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Sanaa Trotter (12) goes after a pass against Edison High in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kalice McCutcheon (26) and Kassidy Beach (15) celebrate a touchdown against Edison High in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kalice McCutcheon (26) tries to get away from Corona Del Mar in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ quarterback Maddy Ryan looks to pass the ball against Edison High in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Denvur Ramirez (4) looks to pass over Corona Del Mar’s Ava Simos (6) in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) and Kalice McCutcheon (26) take a selfie during flag football senior night in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Bryn Pagett (32) and Denvur Ramirez (4) goes after Corona Del Mar’s Ava Simos (6) in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) carries the ball against Corona Del Mar in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Claire Daedelow (17) runs the ball against Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Claire Daedelow (17) grabs the flag Highland’s Jayda Thompson (75) during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Charlotte Baliwag (3) carries the ball against Lakewood High School in Los Alamitos, CA, on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Rylee Robles (24) chats with referees after their game against Dos Pueblos during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos quarterback Rylee Robles (24) carries the ball against Edison’s Maddy Ryan (18) in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) and Kennedy Bowe (1) celebrate a touchdown against Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) carries the ball against Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) and Kalice McCutcheon (26) dance on the sidelines during flag football senior night in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Rylee Robles (24) passes the ball against Lakewood High School in Los Alamitos, CA, on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) and Kennedy Bowe (1) go after a pass against Corona del Mar in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos head coach Laura Hart walks off the field with players after defeating Highland 38-0 in the first game of the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos flag football players sign autographs for young players during senior night in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Kalice McCutcheon (26) acknowledges her teammates after a play against Edison High in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Charlotte Baliwag (3) gets caught between two Highland defenders during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos’ Bryn Pagett (32), left, Sanaa Trotter (12) and Kalice McCutcheon (26) play Heads Up with other teams as they wait for their game to start during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Alamitos flag football team poses for a picture with young players during senior night in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

They started their season in borrowed volleyball uniforms with only three weeks of practice. A few months later, they finished their season losing by just two points to the No.1-ranked team in their bracket.

It’s not groundbreaking to see a girl playing football, but this school year they had their own CIF-sanctioned sport: Flag football. Dozens of teams formed in the state for the inaugural season that ended a week ago.

At Los Alamitos High School, the pressure to start a team came from their future quarterback, Rylee Robles, who said she was watching the boys practice and wanted to play football in high school.

Robles is no stranger to football, she’s been playing in Friday Night Lights, a youth flag football league, for a few years.

When she heard CIF officials were considering making it an official high school sport, she said she took action talking with school officials and posted flyers around campus. She was able to drum up enough interest to assemble a team and hire a coach.

The games are quick, with two 20-minute halves with a running clock and a five-minute halftime. Touchdowns are six points, but there is no kicking. The point after a touchdown is either a 1- or 2-point conversion based on the distance the team chooses.

The historic nature of the inaugural season wasn’t lost on Robles. Throughout the season, Robles said she thought, “Oh my gosh that was the first touchdown, that was the first flag pull.” It was small moments, she said, that gave her, “a real big perspective of this being the first time.”

Head Coach Laura Hart said, “The competitiveness of the level play has increased now that it’s an actual CIF sport … and it’s gonna increase as the years go on.”

Hart said she is pleased with the progress the team made throughout the season. And, after the season-ending 2 point loss, she told the team, “hold your head high because you played at a high level the whole time.”

Esperanza’s girls flag football team punctuated an undefeated season with a dramatic victory Saturday in the finals of a tournament sponsored by the L.A. Chargers.

Quarterback Madi Lam threw a 4-yard touchdown on third down to Ellie Frazier and completed a 1-point conversion to Frazier’s sister Bailey as the Aztecs edged Orange Lutheran 28-27 in overtime at Orange Coast College.

The Aztecs, ranked No. 2 in the nation to Newport Harbor by MaxPreps, finished the inaugural flag season in the CIF Southern Section with a 25-0 record.

The team swarmed Bailey Frazier after her game-winning catch.

“It was an amazing game and the way they ended it was a dream,” Esperanza coach Jimmy Valverde said. “Amazing kids.”

Esperanza rallied from a 21-13 deficit in the second half thanks to an 80-yard interception return for a score by Lam. The sophomore then tossed a 2-point conversion to Ellie Frazier, also a sophomore, to the tie the score 21-21.

Valverde said another key was the pass rush of Daniela Vejar, who switched from cornerback to help cover for the absence of Taylor Shumaker (softball commitment).

On the interception return, Vejar pressured the quarterback to help force the turnover at the Esperanza goal line.

The Aztecs finished 3-0 against Orange Lutheran this fall.

Esperanza opened the tournament Friday with victories against Westlake (21-12) and Huntington Beach (26-0). The Aztecs rallied from a 12-6 deficit against Westlake.

“I’m so proud but I’m also tired,” said Valverde, who also coached the junior varsity team and the girls basketball team preparing for its season. “(It) takes a total team effort from athletic director (Keri Walters), players, coaches and awesome support from our parents and fans.”

The Aztecs will be honored at halftime of Esperanza’s first-round CIF-SS football game Thursday at Yorba Linda High.

They received Chargers’ gear, Oakley sunglasses and a trophy for the winning the season-ending tournament.

You’re winning with the Olympics and the World Cup. Winning whenever a guy from Akron, Ohio, defends a guy from Sombor, Serbia. With every unlikely bromance like the ones between former Dodgers Hyun Jin Ryu and Juan Uribe or former Clippers Tobias Harris and Boban Marjanovic.

You’re winning when lines blur between social scenes like this fall at high schools throughout Southern California, the natural and probably not altogether unintended consequence of introducing a new sport – girls flag football became CIF-sanctioned this year – to a diverse campus like Lakewood High School.

Girls who ran track teamed up with girls who played basketball, and girls who never played a sport at all ran plays with girls who long dreamed of playing football like their brothers.

This wasn’t a group that grew up running in the same AYSO circles or competing against each other on the club softball circuit. And it’s not like they all grew up playing Pop Warner together.

A lot of these Lancers were largely strangers.

And now they’re not.

“If it wasn’t for the team, we wouldn’t have met each other, so that’s honestly a good highlight of it,” said Daniela Luna, a sophomore snapper. “And, like, we’re seeing our scenes differently, because we’re hanging out during school now, too.”

“We’re all from different groups of campus and we come out here and practice, it’s just a different vibe,” said Jaela Baker, a junior. “Just different experiences, learning about different backgrounds and stuff, getting the pleasure to know the girls is just really nice.”

“I just feel like we’ve become a family, they’re my friends, they’re my team, and LHS, this is our school, we have to represent,” said Jennifer Reed, a junior quarterback, through sign language interpreter Shannon Schaller.

Reed, who is deaf, played a sport for the first time this season – which ended this week with games against Long Beach Jordan and Long Beach Wilson.

Reed started both games at quarterback for the junior varsity team, which beat Jordan, 28-19, on Wednesday and Wilson, 14-0, on Thursday. (Lakewood’s varsity squad split, defeating Jordan, 27-0, and falling to Wilson, 20-13.)

At practice Monday, Reed was one of three quarterbacks throwing passes during route-running drills. Her arm strength was almost as noticeable as her smile, which seemed never to fade – except while she had to impatiently wait her turn to jump into a raucous game of sharks and minnows.

Spent Monday at Lakewood High School watching flag football practice and meeting some of the players on a most eclectic team. One of the stars: Jennifer Reed, a deaf quarterback and very cool kid. Column to come. pic.twitter.com/Opts3DkNNU

— Mirjam Swanson (@MirjamSwanson) October 27, 2023

Reed said she’s learned lots and lots of plays this season. And her teammates will tell you she taught them lots and lots about how to communicate with someone who can’t hear.

Because you don’t realize how often a coach asks a team to listen – “Hey, listen, for those who just got here …” or “Listen to the rules!” – until you, well, listen for it.

“At the beginning it was frustrating,” Baker said. “Because at the time I didn’t know she was hearing impaired, so I had to correct myself and apologize.

“She doesn’t talk, she claps, and sometimes you can’t hear because out here, it’s loud … but you just have to adapt to it, look at her and adapt. Being able to adapt to other people, and just to adapt in general, I think that’s been good, definitely.”

Sasha Blackburn, a sprinter turned safety, said she started learning sign language in the fifth grade and has since taken three years of it in high school. So she said she’s done a share of translating between Reed and the rest of the team, too.

“She’s nice, I like being able to talk to her, not making her feel left out,” Blackburn said. “Or if someone else needs to communicate with her, they’ll be like, ‘Can you sign for me?’”

On Monday afternoon, Schaller was doing most of the translating. In a black dress and sandals, she stood in the middle of a field of football players on Monday afternoon, interpreting everything said by coach Leilani Utupo and the girls with flags flapping around their waists – including the colorful stuff. This is a football team, after all.

“When she came out, she had no fear in her,” Utupo said of Reed, who moved up the depth chart as the season progressed. “So she tried out for quarterback, and she has done really well.”

Said Reed: “I just wanted to be a part of a team.”

And she is, fitting in with an eclectic group of almost 30 players, young women who have some important attributes in common – starting with a shared fearlessness. The guts to try something hard and new, even as some families were less supportive of the endeavor than others, those girls showed up anyway, Utupo said. As Baker described her team: “Very headstrong – when they want it, they want it, simple as that.”

“I hope it just encourages them throughout life, if there’s a goal you want to achieve, continue to do that,” said Utupo, who goes down as the first woman to be a head football coach in the Moore League.

Her dad was a football coach and her husband, Justin, is the head coach of Lakewood’s 11-man football team – for which Leilani serves as strength and conditioning coach. She remembers a female kicker on one of her dad’s teams, but he never coached a player who was hearing impaired, she said.

And she quite likes the idea that nothing should impede a young woman from taking on a new challenge and trying something she might love. From meeting and learning about people she wouldn’t otherwise, if not for a brand-new flag football team.

“No matter how different or far off it is in other people’s eyes,” Utupo said. “If it was instilled in your heart, there’s a reason, you know?”

Lakewood girls flag football coach Leilani Utupo on being a role model for girls and women who are interested in playing and coaching football. @LKWDFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/LsVu02TOxN

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) September 13, 2023

The Orange County girls athlete of the week:

Name: Maia Helmar

School: Newport Harbor

Sport: Flag football

Year: Junior

Noteworthy: Helmar threw four touchdown passes, intercepted a pass and recorded several tackles to lead the Sailors, ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps, to a 27-0 victory against No. 4 Corona del Mar in the Surf League. Newport Harbor improved to 22-1.

Please send nominees for Orange County girls athlete of the week to dalbano@scng.com or @ocvarsityguy on X or Instagram

Flag football is officially one of five new sports added to the Olympic program for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

On Monday in Mumbai at the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) session, it was announced that flag football, baseball/softball, cricket, lacrosse and squash would be included at the Games.

It will be the first time that flag football and squash will be in an Olympic Games.

Cricket was included in the Paris Olympics in 1900, while lacrosse was included at St. Louis 1904 and London 1908. Baseball and softball have been in several Olympics, most recently in 2021 for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

“The choice of these five new sports is in line with the American sports culture and will showcase iconic American sports to the world, while bringing international sports to the United States. These sports will make the Olympic Games LA28 unique,” IOC president Thomas Bach said in a statement.

“Their inclusion will allow the Olympic Movement to engage with new athlete and fan communities in the US and globally.”

THE OLYMPIC PROCESS: Flag football set to be included at Los Angeles Olympics in 2028

The IOC explained that the process to decide upon the addition of the five sports took a plethora of different criteria, including looking at how popular the sport is in both the US and globally.

Flag football, baseball, softball and lacrosse are sports which are traditionally popular in the US.

Lacrosse will be competed in the ‘sixes’ format of the game – a fast-paced, compact version of the sport at the intersection of field and box lacrosse. According to World Lacrosse: “It offers an inclusionary opportunity to all lacrosse athletes and an easier entry point for new players, and is characterized by an accelerated, open style of play with quick transitions and non-stop, high-scoring action.”

It added: “Developed in 2018, sixes has advanced global growth, increased accessibility and approachability, created greater competitive balance, and reduced cost and complexity of participation and event staging. It is the next generation version of the game.”

Cricket, while a popular sport around the globe, has had little interest in the US until earlier this year when the inaugural season of Major League Cricket – a competition focused on the shorter format of the game – took place.

“I have long believed that we have an incredible opportunity in Los Angeles to create the most compelling Games, not just for us, but for the world. Our Olympic sport program, in its entirety, reflects this belief,” the chairperson of the 2028 Games’ organizing committee, Casey Wasserman, said.

“We are excited to embark on game-changing collaborations with major professional leagues that will unlock massive opportunities to amplify the Olympic and Paralympic story and captivate new audiences.”

NEWPORT BEACH — There was no doubt this time. Newport Harbor’s girls flag football team made sure of that Wednesday night.

Junior Maia Helmar tossed four touchdowns and intercepted a pass on defense as the Sailors defeated Back Bay rival Corona del Mar 27-0 in a Sunset League game between nationally-ranked teams at Newport Harbor High.

The Sailors (22-1, 11-0), ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps, had edged No. 4 Corona del Mar (18-4, 9-2) by margins of 12-7 and 12-6 in overtime earlier this season. The latter game featured a controversial pass interference penalty that became part of the storyline entering Round III.

But before a large crowd for the Rams’ Game of the Week, Newport Harbor raced to a 14-0 lead at halftime and added two more touchdowns in the second half to deliver a decisive result.

“It should have been (this) way for the other two games,” Helmar said, “(but) it was the nerves because they are our rival school and they are a very good team.”

After Helmar capped the scoring with a long pass down field for a 30-yard TD strike to sophomore Ella Woods, Newport Harbor’s rallying call surfaced.

“There’s no question now,” someone said along the Sailors’ sideline.

“There shouldn’t be,” Newport Harbor coach Jason Guyser said. “It wasn’t about trying to beat them by a lot of points. It was just about making (the result) clear.”

“I thought (we) played amazing,” the coach added. “Other than when we beat Woodbridge 33-13, I think these are our two best games.”

Newport Harbor scored on its first two drives.

Helmar, who also plays soccer and softball, capped the first possession with a 4-yard TD pass to senior wide receiver Kate Kubiak, an Oregon committed soccer player. Junior Abigail George caught the extra-point to make it 7-0.

Newport Harbor’s defense set up the score as senior pass rusher Emma Chaix recorded a sack on fourth down to give the offense the ball at the Corona del Mar 43.

On the Sailors’ next drive, Helmar punctuated a long march by throwing a 9-yard touchdown to junior Audrey Burns. Freshman Maddy Michel grabbed the extra-point as the Sailors built a 14-0 advantage.

In the second half, Newport Harbor’s defense provided another spark. Sophomore safety Cooper Dick deflected a pass to Helmar for an interception at the Corona del Mar 42.

Helmar capped the ensuing possession by rolling out to her left and tossing a 2-yard TD strike to George as the lead swelled to 21-0.

“The biggest difference was they executed on offense and we did not,” Corona del Mar coach Yvonne Sturgeon said. “Not just our league, but this area, this section of flag football is a powerhouse. … Maia threw some great balls tonight.”

Helmar also played well on defense. From her outside linebacker spot, she grabbed flags on three of four plays to force Corona del Mar to turn the ball over on downs late in the game. Burns, a cornerback, recorded the other tackle with a diving flag pull.

On the ensuing possession, Helmar launched her long TD pass to Woods.

Corona del Mar was led by speedy junior QB Alexa Rokos, who plays point guard in basketball.

The more diverse the student-athlete, the better.

That’s one of the strongest themes that has catapulted Esperanza’s girls flag football team in the national rankings and to an Orange County-best 17-0 record.

The Aztecs’ roster is comprised of several players from the school’s highly-successful softball and girls basketball programs, along with a few others from soccer, water polo and golf.

Coach Jimmy Valverde is best-known as Esperanza’s girls basketball coach, though he also has coached baseball.

“We’re having a blast,” he said recently of his flag football team. “We have girls from all over the place … and now they’re all friends because of football.”

Esperanza enters the stretch drive of the inaugural flag football season in the CIF Southern Section with a 17-0 record and a No. 3 national ranking for the fall season by MaxPreps. Newport Harbor and Woodbridge are No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Several states, including Florida, play flag football in the spring.

The Aztecs’ offense features quarterback Madi Lam, who has passed for more than 3,400 yards and 61 touchdowns. In the winter, the sophomore is a standout point guard for Valverde on the basketball team.

Lam’s top target is senior Bailey Frazier, who has 87 catches for 951 yards and 11 TDs. She plays forward in basketball.

Esperanza’s arsenal of receivers is deep. Frazier’s sister Ellie, a sophomore who also plays basketball, has 55 receptions for 772 yards and a team-high 13 touchdowns.

Alexis Quon, another receiver who plays basketball, has tallied 47 receptions for 609 yards and 10 TDs.

Senior Taylor Shumaker, an All-County center fielder in softball, has hauled in 10 touchdowns in 10 games. She is committed to Florida for softball.

Shumaker is one of six softball players on the flag football team. Mia Sanchez, a standout pitcher in softball, is another one of the Aztecs’ quarterbacks.

“I got athletes, man,” said Valverde, who is assisted by coaches Jim Lam and Chris Fitzgerald. “We’re a fun team to watch.”

On defense, Bailey Frazier leads the team in flags pulled with 61. Sophomore Emma Gribben, who also plays water polo, is second with 58 and also has 40 catches for 428 yards and one score.

Lam and Ellie Frazier have eight and seven interceptions, respectively. Shumaker and junior Daniela Vejar, another softball player, each have five sacks.

Esperanza has a few more games remaining on its schedule, but like he has shown in basketball, Valverde isn’t all about the victories.

“We work hard,” he said. “We’re going to win the right way, and we’re going to lose with some class.”

The latter, however, hasn’t yet happened.

Please send flag football news to Dan Albano at dalbano@scng.com or @ocvarsityguy on X and Instagram

The Orange County girls athlete of the week:

Name: Katie Meneses

School: Rosary

Sport: Flag football

Year: Senior

Noteworthy: The quarterback completed 30 of 37 passes for 304 yards and seven touchdowns in a victory against JSerra, and 27 of 46 passes for 324 yards and three scores in a victory against Mater Dei. Meneses has passed for 4,483 yards and 74 TDs while leading Rosary to a 15-5 record in the inaugural season of girls flag football in the Southern Section.

Please send nominees for girls athlete of the week to Dan Albano at dalbano@scng.com or @ocvarsityguy

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  Newport Harbor quarterback Maia Helmar (23) passes the ball over the Marina defense during a girls flag football game at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Newport Harbor’s team is ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Presley Keeton (11) of Newport Harbor returns the ball after intercepting a Marina pass during a girls flag football game at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Newport Harbor’s team is ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Cooper Dick (1) and Audrey Burns (22) of Newport Harbor collide as they attempt to intercept a pass to Gianna Canale (25) of Marina during a girls flag football game at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Newport Harbor’s team is ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Kate Kubiak (4) of Newport Harbor scores a touchdown in a girls flag football game against Marina at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Newport Harbor’s team is ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Newport Harbor gather before their game against Marina during a girls flag football game at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Newport Harbor’s team is ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Kate Kubiak (4) of Newport Harbor reaches for extra yardage as she’s tackled by Gianna Canale (25) and Bella Rodriguez (15) of Marina during a girls flag football game at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Newport Harbor’s team is ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Shelby Nguyen (3) of Marina attempts to avoid being tackled by Kate Kubiak (4) and Audrey Burns (22) of Newport Harbor during a girls flag football game at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Newport Harbor’s team is ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Cooper Dick (1) of Newport Harbor catches a pass during a girls flag football game against Marina at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Newport Harbor’s team is ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Maddy Michel (2) of Newport Harbor jumps to catch a pass for extra point over Elizabeth Krysinski (20) of Marina but it was called back after the referee said she out of bounds during a girls flag football game at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Newport Harbor’s team is ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Maddy Michel (2) and Kate Kubiak (4) of Newport Harbor celebrate after Kubiak scored a touchdown during a girls flag football game against Marina at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Newport Harbor’s team is ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Kate Kubiak (4), right, of Newport Harbor runs for yardage as she is chased by Courtney Hames (10) of Marina during a girls flag football game at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Newport Harbor’s team is ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Cooper Dick (1) of Newport Harbor catches a pass against the defense of Gianna Canale (25) of Marina during a girls flag football game at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Newport Harbor’s team is ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Newport Harbor head coach Jason Guyser questions a referee’s call during a girls flag football game against Marina at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Newport Harbor’s team is ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Presley Keeton (11), left, of Newport Harbor runs past the defense of Alex Ortenzo (7) of Marina after intercepting a pass during a girls flag football game at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Newport Harbor’s team is ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

NEWPORT BEACH – The Marina quarterback threw a deep pass.

Two Newport Harbor defensive backs went up for the football. They smashed into each other and sent the ball bouncing off the ground along with them.

Somehow neither player was injured. Both got up quickly and were ready for the next play.

Those girls are tough.

It was a Sunset League girls flag football game Wednesday at Newport Harbor High School. The game was played at Davidson Field, where many varsity football games have been played over a few decades.

Newport Harbor, the No. 1 team in MaxPreps.com’s national rankings, beat Marina 18-12. Marina had a 12-6 lead at halftime.

Sailors junior quarterback Maia Helmar threw two second-half touchdown passes to senior receiver Kate Kubiak. Kubiak’s speed and moves were especially impressive on the first touchdown. She took a short pass before dodging Marina players trying to grab a flag for 15 yards on her way to the end zone.

Newport Harbor improved to 16-1 overall and 5-0 in the Sunset League.

Marina sophomore quarterback Mia Valbeuna, also an excellent pitcher on the the school’s softball team, showed off a strong arm as the Vikings slid to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in league.

That collision on the pass play involved Newport Harbor players Cooper Dick and Audrey Burns. The way the players got up like nothing happened supported what Helmar said after the game, that flag football players can handle the physical stuff. She wishes the rules allowed for more of it.

“They can stop making it like we need to be pampered,” Helmar said. “We’re not allowed to dive (to pull) flags and so many other things because they think we’re softer than boys. Diving for flags, that’s where you you can show your athletic ability and how you can set yourself apart from other players.”

Helmar is a multi-sport athlete like a few other players on Newport Harbor’s team.

Kubiak is a soccer player who got started in flag football with the Matt Leinart flag league.

“This is different because it’s also a hand sport,” Kubiak said. “Because I played before, catching the ball was easy for me but learning plays and playing defense was new to me.”

Newport Harbor’s one loss through Wednesday was to Woodbridge 13-12. The Sailors earlier had defeated Woodbridge by the same score. Newport Harbor got its revenge with a 33-13 win over Woodbridge.

“That was kind of like, ‘we’ve got to get our bragging rights back,” Burns said. “‘We’re the No. 1 team in the nation’ was our mentality. We have fun with that.”

Flag football is the same as tackle football when it comes to the players’ desire to win.

“I think we weren’t on our ‘A’ game,” Helmar said after the game. “I wasn’t throwing as well as usual. We all have our off days, and this was one of our off days.”

FLAG FOOTBALL’S FIRST SEASON

This is the first season in which girls flag football is a CIF sport. It has grown quickly. Tournaments fill many weekend schedules, including this weekend when Mission Viejo hosts a 21-team tournament. The tournament started with pool play Friday and has championship games in three divisions — Gold, Silver and Bronze — on Saturday.

The CIF Southern Section will not have playoffs this year for girls flag football. CIF-SS by-laws require that at least 20 percent of its member schools must field a varsity team in a sport before that sport can have sanctioned playoffs. That 20 percent minimum had not been reached in time for girls flag football to have playoffs this season.

That 20 percent minimum is expected to be easily surpassed for the 2024 season.

Flag football teams are allowed a maximum of 28 games before the season’s final date of Oct. 28. Games are played using a youth-sized football with 20-minute halves on fields that are 30 to 40 yards wide and 50 to 80 yards in length.

The Marina-Newport Harbor game was played on a field that was 40 by 80 yards.

The NFL and others are providing assistance. Under Armour and BSN Sports are helping underwrite the Mission Viejo tournament.

The Orange County girls athlete of the week:

Name: Milan Heisdorf

School: Woodbridge

Sport: Flag football

Year: Senior

Noteworthy: The under-17 national flag football team member played wide receiver and safety to help the Warriors capture the Beckman SoCal Showcase with a 5-0 record. Heisdorf, who is committed to UC Irvine for soccer, also serves as Woodbridge’s captain.

Please send nominees for girls athlete of the week to Dan Albano at dalbano@scng.com or @ocvarsityguy