The Dos Pueblos High School Girls Flag Football team is sitting at a record of 18-1 this season, after a close win against San Marcos High School 15-14 last week. The Chargers are 10-1 in Channel League play and are aiming for their third consecutive league championship.

Flag football became a sanctioned high school sport in 2023 and DPHS went 14-3 in its first season and 6-1 in League. Last year, the girls ended in an overall record of 17-6, and a league record of 7-3. The team has built off their collective success with off-season workouts, summer scrimmages, and the Chargers Invitational Tournament on August 15-16, 2025. Teacher Ryan Joy, the assistant girls flag football coach, said the team “dedicated a lot” of their summer to preparing for the upcoming flag season.

Fifteen high schools from Southern California were invited to compete in the Chargers invitational, where DPHS finished second. The Chargers defeated several highly ranked teams before falling to Orange Lutheran 21-23. Heading into their new flag season, the team has a new quarterback, Kacey Hurley (12).

“Hurley has stepped up for the team by being a first-year quarterback and executing it well,” said George Hedricks, another assistant coach.

According to Joy, the flag football team met one of their season goals, which was to defeat SMHS. Both Hedricks and Joy said the girls made “big plays” during the SMHS game and ended with a tight score of 15-14. However, during DPHS’ rematch with SMHS on Tuesday, September 30, the girls were unable to win with a loss of 7-14.

Player Brooklyn Hedricks said she “really wants to continue” playing flag football after high school and has received offers from Hendrix College, NCAA Division lll school, and Lindsey Wilson University, an NAIA program.

Before flag football’s two weekly games, the team practices twice before their weekly games on Tuesday and Thursday. Ahmad-Reda explains how practice works: the team starts with warm-ups, moves to offensive drills, plays against a scout defense, and then shifts to defensive drills along with team defense.

Both the coaches and multiple team members described the girls’ chemistry as one of their biggest strengths.

“The girls have each other’s backs. Just flush it, get to the next play, and that’s what’s gonna work,” Joy said.

With two straight Channel League titles already in hand, the Chargers hope to capture a third. They defeated Ventura 31-19 on Oct. 1.

They face Buena at home at 6:00 p.m. Oct. 7.

Edited 10/6/25 for clarity.