Bonita Vista High School (Division I) and Classical High School (Division II) emerged as the San Diego Section’s first girls flag football champions last year.
It was a pioneering effort that brought 53 high schools in the region to field teams to create the section’s newest sport.
There were enough teams to crown league champions and enough teams to flesh out two meaningful 12-teams playoff brackets.
The sport returns for its sophomore year with only a few tweaks. Its creators appear to have got it right the first time.
They were definitely on to something.
Vying for playing time with girls volleyball and girls field hockey, girls flag football managed to carve out its own specific niche while drawing student-athletes from other seasonal sports such as basketball (winter) and track and field (spring).
It offered another platform for females to explore and make it their own.
Season II is right around the corner.
The first day of practice for girls flag football is Aug. 10, followed by the first possible scrimmage on Aug. 16 and first interscholastic contest on Aug. 17. The last possible pre-playoff contest is Nov. 5.
First-round playoff games are scheduled Nov. 11-12, followed by quarterfinals on Nov. 14-16. Semifinals are Nov. 18-19, capped by finals Nov. 21-23.
The 2024 playoff format features an expansion from two divisions last year to four divisions this season. A total of 48 teams will be included for post-season play and will be ranked from top to bottom.
Once the 48 teams are selected, they will be split into four divisions. League champions will get an automatic berth. In the playoffs, the top four seeded teams will get a first-round bye, in the playoffs. Seeds Nos. 5-8 will host seeds Nos. 9-12.
Rule changes include games going to 24-minute halves, up from 20 minutes last year, and from three flags to two flags for tackling purposes.
Additionally, quarterbacks will have a seven-second timer to get rid of the ball.
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The 2024 season will kick off Aug. 17 with the Girls Flag Football Showcase at San Ysidro High School. The five scheduled games will pair San Diego County schools against Imperial Valley schools.
The Grossmont Conference has its own schedule in 2024. Last season, Grossmont High School competed as a member of the Metro Conference.
Grossmont, Granite Hills, Steele Canyon and Santana High School have banded together this season in triple-round league play.
There were four upsets in the 2023 playoffs — two in the Division I opening round and two in the Division II quarterfinals.
EASTERN EXPOSURE
Grossmont kicks off its season Aug. 17 with a non-league game against Calexico at San Ysidro High School and hosts Vincent Memorial in non-league game on Aug. 27.
Granite Hills kicks off its season Sept. 3 at Hilltop in nonleague play.
Santana kicks off its season Aug. 26 by hosting Canyon Hills in a non-league game.
Steele Canyon kicks off its season Aug. 22 with a non-league game against visiting Ramona.
League play kicks off Sept. 30 with two games: Grossmont at Granite Hills and Steele Canyon versus Santana, also at Granite Hills High School.
Grossmont statistical leaders in 2023 included sophomore quarterback Marissa Farace (2,181 passing yards, 33 touchdowns) and senior receiver/rusher Guliana Balistreri-Coleman (841 rushing yards, nine touchdowns; 819 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns).
Balistreri-Coleman earned honors as the Metro-Mesa’s offensive player of the year.
