Turlock High School has one of the oldest football programs in the region. In fact, this year marks the 104th season for the Bulldogs. With such a storied history that includes 18 league championships and one state title, the girls competing for the school’s first-ever competitive flag football team were motivated to keep up the winning ways.
In front of a large crowd under the lights of Joe Debely Stadium on Wednesday night, the Lady Bulldogs cruised to a 38-7 victory over Oakdale in their first game in program history.
One word that players, coaches and fans used to describe the sport, which was introduced to the Sac-Joaquin Section just 18 months ago? Fun.
“Oh, it’s very fun,” said Turlock head coach Aaron King. “Just the excitement the girls have, it’s great to be around and to be involved with.”
King has a long history with both types of football, tackle and flag. He has over 20 years of experience coaching those in helmets and pads, and has coached his children’s flag football teams at Turlock Sports Park in recent years. Under his watch, the girls — many of whom are athletes in other sports — had been practicing and preparing for their inaugural season since May.
“The girls have been building and building and building towards this moment. They were a little jittery at first before the game, but when we came out tonight, they fired on all cylinders. I don't think anything could have stopped them at that point,” King said.
The Bulldogs scored in five of their seven offensive possessions against the Mustangs, who are also embarking on their first year in the fast-growing sport.
Leading the charge was Cadee Campbell, who many local softball and basketball enthusiasts may recognize. The 5-foot-8 senior, who pitched to a 1.80 ERA in 74 innings this past spring, was encouraged by friends and King’s staff to join the sport, emphasizing their sentiment that her arm could translate to the gridiron.
“Everybody was telling me to try out, so I did. And that was actually my first time ever throwing a football,” Campbell said.
On Wednesday, she used that arm strength to throw for 91 yards and a touchdown. She also used her speed to break off a 60-yard touchdown run. Remind you, flag football is played on an 80-yard long and 50-yard wide field.
Karley Wool, another senior who plays softball and is also a wrestler, scored the first touchdown in the school’s flag football history when she snagged a pass from Campbell for a 50-yard score just two plays into the contest.
A quartet of soccer players also put points on the board for the ‘Dogs. Isis Cosio, a senior, scored the second touchdown of the game with a 5-yard rush. Two plays later, senior Kealani Solis, who is also a sprinter on the track team, returned an interception 40 yards for the score. Sophomore Marley Hernandez scored on a 7-yard rush to open the second half. Turlock’s last score came on a 53-yard connection from second-string senior quarterback Eliza Roque to senior softballer Jaysee Rubio.
“I think we’re really good,” Campbell said of her team. “Hopefully we can make the playoffs. Maybe we can even go undefeated.”
King’s goals are the same. But above all, he echoed the feelings of Pitman flag football head coach Matthew Vasconcellos, whose team made their debut the day prior in a close loss to defending WAC champion Ceres.
“This sport is real. It’s gaining steam, especially with the Olympics coming to LA,” he said. “It’s already being talked about how it could be an Olympic sport now that the games in Paris just wrapped up. Now the next ones are here in the United States, in California. I feel like there is just going to be more and more talk about it, and it’s a real opportunity for many female athletes who don’t play other fall sports.”
