November 3rd 2024.
Before the season began, Coach Tim Test of Mountain View High School's flag football team was faced with a challenging task. He had to build a team from scratch, recruiting players from various schools across the northern Front Range. It was no easy feat, but Test was determined to find the best players to create a strong team.
After searching through seven different schools, Test was able to gather a group of 21 amazing athletes who would become the foundation of the Lions' team. Test was proud of how far his team had come in such a short amount of time. He often referred to them as going from "stranger-hood to sisterhood," as just six months ago, these girls were strangers from different schools, and now they were united as a team. The transformation was truly remarkable.
On a Saturday evening at Jeffco Trailblazer Stadium, the Lions' sisterhood proved to be a winning combination as they became Colorado's first Class 4A flag football champions. The No. 2 ranked Lions dominated the No. 1 ranked The Classical Academy, shutting them out with a final score of 26-0. It was a remarkable achievement, especially considering that the Lions' only loss of the season was to 5A semifinalist Valor Christian.
Led by senior quarterback Mason Premer, the Lions' offense was powerful, but it was their defense that truly shined. They were able to shut down The Classical Academy's offense, preventing them from scoring for the first time all season. Premer was in disbelief at their victory, exclaiming that he wouldn't have believed it if someone had told him they would win with such a score.
One of the key moments of the game was when senior Gwynn Marks intercepted a pass and ran 42 yards for a touchdown, sealing the Lions' victory in the fourth quarter. The team had a total of four interceptions, with senior Kendal Finley also making two crucial interceptions. Finley credited the entire team for their success, acknowledging Marks' game-changing interception and another one made by teammate Ellie.
Finley also mentioned that the team had always known they would face The Classical Academy in the finals for the championship. As the top two ranked teams, they knew it would be a challenging game, but they were confident that it was their time to shine.
From the beginning, the Lions dominated the game, scoring their first touchdown in the first quarter when Premer connected with Finley for a 4-yard pass. They continued to increase their lead throughout the game, with a 9-yard touchdown run by McKayla Mecias and another touchdown pass to Violet Hidalgo.
The Titans had their best chance to score near the end of the first half, but Mountain View's Kaitlyn Liddle was able to sack their quarterback, sophomore Kelsey Peterson. This prevented The Classical Academy from scoring and helped secure the Lions' lead.
As the game came to a close, the Lions were leading 20-0, with Premer making a long pass to junior Jesika Hopkins, setting up a 4-yard touchdown pass to Hidalgo. Premer praised Hopkins for her amazing catches, acknowledging that he had the best receivers on his team. He also humbly stated that without them, none of their success would have been possible.
When asked how it felt to win the first official 4A flag football title in state history, Premer struggled to put it into words, simply stating that it was indescribable. Finley, on the other hand, was able to articulate her emotions, sharing that she played football with boys when she was younger, but never imagined she would win a state championship with an all-girls team. To her, it was simply amazing.
The Lions celebrated their victory, basking in the glory of their 26-0 win over The Classical Academy. It was a special moment for the team, and Finley summed it up perfectly when she said, "It's just amazing."
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