November 2nd 2024.
Ever since she was a young girl, Braelynn Looney had been eagerly awaiting this moment. It all started in fourth grade when she joined an all-boys flag football team. She couldn't help but laugh at the memory as she told the story, her competitive spirit shining in her eyes. "I did really well," she boasted. "My motto was always 'I want to make boys cry.' And guess what? I did!"
She vividly remembers the tears streaming down when she sacked the quarterback. It was a moment that she still holds dear to her heart. Her father, Garrett Looney, recalls it fondly as well. "It was like the highlight of her life," he reminisced. "You would've thought she had just won the Super Bowl."
This Saturday, Braelynn is determined to help her team, the Mountain Vista Golden Eagles, win the first official Class 5A state flag football title in Colorado's history. After a successful two-year pilot program, the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) finally sanctioned the sport earlier this fall.
Mountain Vista, who is currently undefeated and the top-seeded team, will be playing against Legend, the fifth-seeded team, in the semifinals at 1:45 p.m. at Jeffco Trailblazer Stadium. Meanwhile, Arvada West, the second-seeded team, will be facing off against Valor, the third-seeded team, at 1:45 p.m. at the neighboring Jeffco Stadium. The winners of these two games will then compete for the championship title at 6:45 p.m. at Trailblazer Stadium.
Head coach Dana "Doc" Srdoc of Mountain Vista couldn't contain her excitement. "This is so cool and so exciting," she exclaimed. "Most daughters are their father's favorites, and they sit around on Saturdays and Sundays and watch football with their dads. So, for them to have the opportunity to go out and execute on the football field is a dream come true for a lot of these girls. Football is America's game, and this is the opportunity to expand it."
For the Looney family, who has deep roots in Colorado football, this opportunity is doubly special. Garrett, who was the quarterback for coach Andy Lowry's first state championship team at Columbine in 1999, is not only the head coach for Mountain Vista's high-scoring 5A boys team, but also the offensive coordinator for his daughter's flag football team. Similarly, Ken Ortega, the defensive coordinator for the boys team, is also the defensive coordinator for the girls. With such a busy schedule, their practice days often run from 3 p.m. until after 7 p.m.
"It's been a long fall for us, long days," Garrett admitted. "But we knew that both programs had a chance to be really good, and here we are, both undefeated."
At just 16 years old, Braelynn is already making a name for herself on the field. As the center in a seven-on-seven sport where every player is an eligible receiver, she has become one of the state's leading receivers with 97 catches for 936 yards and 18 touchdowns. "People never expect the center to be one of the most athletic people," she explained. "So I often get underestimated, and that's when I strike."
Last spring, Braelynn was named the MVP of the West Region at the USA Flag Football Talent ID Camp and even earned an invitation to try out for the U17 national team. Her ultimate goal is to play for Team USA in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. She also hopes to play in college, but only if she can find a top academic school with a flag football program.
At 5-foot-8, Braelynn is a speedster with great hands, and she has excelled in high school and club team lacrosse and soccer. However, football has always been her true passion. As a toddler, she would proudly wear her Grizzlies green and blue as her father coached at ThunderRidge. "I can't remember not having football in my life," she admitted. "Every Friday night, since I was little, it's been that way."
Despite being a Colorado native, Braelynn was never a fan of the Broncos. Her favorite player was none other than former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. "He's the greatest of all time," she gushed. As a result, her closet was full of Rob Gronkowski jerseys as well. "I love 'Gronk' too," she added with a smile.
When Mountain Vista first fielded their trial flag football team last year, Braelynn was all in. Her father had a feeling that she would excel at the sport. "When it comes to understanding the game, a lot of these girls are just as smart as the guys," Garrett explained. "They just needed a chance to learn the game and then go out and play, and Braelynn is proof of that." He also incorporated many of the passing concepts from his boys team into the flag football game plan, showcasing Braelynn's natural instincts for the game.
"She knows how to get open," Garrett proudly stated. "But she also studies the game and runs the routes we've designed. She can be precise or creative."
Leading the Golden Eagles on the field is junior quarterback Ariana Akey, who first played flag football when she was in first grade on a boys team that included her twin brother, Carson, who now plays varsity for the Golden Eagles. Although she is playing football for the first time in high school, Akey has already proven herself with an impressive record of 338 completed passes out of 499 attempts for 3,765 yards, 76 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions.
Her most memorable moment so far was in Mountain Vista's last-second victory over Legend, where they almost blew a 19-0 lead. However, Akey threw a Hail Mary touchdown pass to Leanna Rivera as time expired, securing their win. Her love for football stems from her father, Todd, who was a wishbone quarterback at Wasson High School in Colorado Springs. Despite also excelling in basketball and track and field, football has always been Akey's first love.
Together, Akey and Braelynn have become one of the most lethal duos in the state. "From the beginning of the season, after I was named quarterback after the first practice, we have built up a lot of trust," Akey shared. "I always know where she's going to be, and she finds a way to get open." As for Braelynn, she credits her impressive yards after the catch to her signature move, the hip dip.
"Wait, what's a hip dip?" you may ask. Well, if you're ever playing against Braelynn Looney, watch out for her killer moves on the field.
Braelynn Looney had been eagerly anticipating this moment for years, ever since the day she made a little boy cry. She recounted the memory with a laugh and a glint of competitiveness in her eye. In fourth grade, she had joined an all-boys flag football team, determined to prove herself in a male-dominated sport. And she succeeded, earning the nickname "The Crying Maker" as she relentlessly tackled her opponents and brought them to tears.
But it wasn't until she sacked the quarterback that she truly felt like she had reached the pinnacle of her young football career. Her dad, Garrett Looney, remembers that moment as if it were yesterday, with tears of joy streaming down Braelynn's face. He couldn't help but feel proud of his daughter, who had followed in his footsteps as a football player.
Now, years later, Braelynn has the opportunity to lead her team, the Mountain Vista Golden Eagles, to the first official Class 5A state flag football title in Colorado history. As the undefeated and top-seeded team, they are preparing to face off against the fifth-seeded Legend in the semifinals. It's a historic moment for the state, as this is the first year that CHSAA has sanctioned flag football as an official sport.
For Braelynn, this is a dream come true. She has always loved football, and being able to play it at such a high level is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Her head coach, Dana "Doc" Srdoc, can't help but feel proud of his team, especially the girls who have defied gender stereotypes to excel in a traditionally male-dominated sport.
The Looney family is no stranger to football. Braelynn's dad, Garrett, was the quarterback for coach Andy Lowry's first state championship team at Columbine in 1999. This title came just months after the tragic shooting at the school. Now, Garrett is not only the head coach of Mountain Vista's highly-ranked boys team, but also the offensive coordinator for his daughter's flag football team. Along with defensive coordinator Ken Ortega, the two coaches have been working tirelessly to lead their teams to victory.
For Braelynn, football has always been a part of her life. As a toddler, she would don her dad's team colors and cheer him on from the sidelines. She's a natural athlete, excelling in high school and club team lacrosse and soccer, but football has always been her true passion. She even dreams of playing for Team USA in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
At just 16 years old, Braelynn is a standout player on her team. As the center, she's often underestimated by her opponents, who don't expect her to be as athletic as she is. But with 97 catches for 936 yards and 18 touchdowns, she has proven that she is a force to be reckoned with. Her dad, who also serves as her team's offensive coordinator, has been impressed by her natural instinct for the game and her ability to execute plays flawlessly.
Braelynn's teammate, junior Ariana Akey, is the quarterback for the Golden Eagles. She has been playing football since the first grade, and her twin brother is also a member of the varsity team. Despite being relatively new to the sport, Ariana has proven herself to be a strong and talented player, with 338 completions for 3,765 yards and 76 touchdowns. Her own highlight-reel moment came in a last-second victory over Legend, when she threw a Hail Mary touchdown pass to win the game.
Both Braelynn and Ariana have become a powerful duo on the field, with a strong sense of trust and understanding between them. Braelynn's signature move, the hip dip, has also helped her rack up yards after the catch, making her a valuable asset to the team. With their undefeated record and undeniable talent, the Golden Eagles are a force to be reckoned with as they head into the championship game. And for Braelynn, it's a dream come true to be able to play the sport she loves at such a high level.
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