Every team’s worst nightmare is to have the lead for the majority of the game only to lose it at the end. But that’s exactly the situation the Los Gatos High School girls flag football team was facing in its non-league matchup at Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton on Sept. 18.
The Wildcats had a 12-point lead with just under 10 minutes remaining but were staring defeat in the face as the Gators rallied for a touchdown and started a potential game-winning drive on the Los Gatos 26-yard line with 1:32 left. In other words, SHP had plenty of time to get into the end zone, convert the extra point and break the Wildcats’ supporters hearts.
However, the Los Gatos defense stood tall, forcing four consecutive incompletions to seal a 19-13 victory.
Although the win was sweet, Wildcats coach Dave Claveran was most proud of the team’s ability to persevere when the moment called for it.
“The fact that they can face an obstacle and become resilient in real time—and not after the fact—speaks volumes of their character,” he said. “The last month, these girls have grown so much, and it has nothing to do with winning. The wins are a result of them doing what we’ve talked about: playing ethically, playing responsibly, holding yourself accountable, holding your teammates accountable, practicing with the intensity you bring on gameday, and working hard.”
In improving to 6-0, the Wildcats have established themselves as the top team in the Central Coast Section at the midway point of the season. Entering the matchup, Max Preps had Los Gatos ranked No. 1 in the section and Sacred Heart Prep No. 2. The 1-2 matchup didn’t disappoint, as Los Gatos survived with a gutsy defensive performance.
The Wildcats did enough offensively, with Helena Younan completing 16-of-22 passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns. Just as important, Younan threw only one interception. Her ability to create extra time on dropbacks proved crucial, because the Gators were coming after her with a fierce pass rush.
Having already thrown TD passes of 12 yards to Sophie Riese and 21 yards to Paige Purcell, Younan found Riese near the left pylon for the team’s final score and a 19-7 lead with 9:53 left. Younan dropped back and avoided a couple of flag-pulls with some nifty footwork before throwing an off-balance strike to Riese, who finished with six receptions for 46 yards.
Purcell was also dynamite, catching eight passes for 80 yards, racking up huge chunks of yardage after the catch (YAC). Her ability to sidestep defenders makes her a dangerous threat whenever she catches the ball and especially lethal in the open field. Time and again, Purcell utilized her juking ability and turned what looked to be a minimal gain into a big play.
“Paige works at it all year long,” Claveran said. “She plays in the off-season every week; she focuses on her body and physical health; and what you see on the field is a result of all of that. So, we are very fortunate to have some really good athletes and players that can make people miss like that.”
Taylor Payne led the Los Gatos defense with a team-high eight flag pulls, and Purcell had six. Kendall Feichtmeir had five flag-pulls, and an emphatic pass-breakup on the Gators’ final offensive play to force a turnover on downs. Freshman Quinn Peake had a sack and Riese had an interception while having one taken away in the third quarter on a pass-interference call that left the Los Gatos sideline incredulous.
Riese is a fantastic two-way player and has filled the stat sheet this season. Los Gatos also has underrated players including center Reilly Cronin, Kinsley Ozawa, Page Feichtmeir and Cate Zeman who have made a tremendous impact.
The Wildcats have built their record with several especially thrilling victories, including against Carlmont, Sacred Heart Prep, St. Francis and Merced, which is now ranked No. 12 in the nation. Los Gatos is No. 11 nationally, but Claveran doesn’t care much about rankings and records. It might seem counterintuitive, but Claveran’s emphasis of not focusing on the scoreboard and rankings has helped the team establish rhythms that will help get them to the top.
“We beat Merced and they’re top 10 in the US, but I wanted the girls to be more focused on how they went into a game unsure of themselves, came out on top and started to build confidence in themselves,” Claveran said. “These young ladies honestly have exponentially increased their resilience in the last month or two. So yes, the rankings are great, but all it does is show them that what they’re doing is the right thing. It shows them they’re playing the game the right way.”
The team has played shutdown defense, holding five of six opponents to 13 points or less. Instead of sitting back and letting offenses dictate the action, the Los Gatos defense has been aggressive and determined.
“Our defensive strategy is to let good teams beat us, and what I mean by that is we are not going to back up,” Claveran said. “We are going to meet the moment, and we are going to be physical within the rules. The idea is if you back up, that’s a (lack of) confidence thing. We’ve stressed that we are going to move forward; we’re going to attack the objective; we’re going to lean in with confidence; and if we get beat by a good team, we get beat. But that’s what you saw: you saw body-on-body, staying connected and no fear.”
Last year in the inaugural girls flag football CCS playoffs, the Wildcats lost to Menlo School 27-13 in the Open Division championship game. This season, they’re determined to seal the deal.
“We fell slightly short last year and that is weighing on their shoulders,” Claveran said. “So that is our goal at the end of the season: to get our butts back to the CCS title game and finish business.”
In California and across the nation, girls high school flag football has exploded in popularity. In fact, it has become the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., cracking the national top 10 for girls sports participation with over 102,000 players during the 2025-2026 academic year, according to the most recent data from the National Federation of State High School Association.
Statewide, girls flag football participation increased 25.4% from the previous year, according to the California Interscholastic Federation. The sport is now sanctioned in 23 states, up from just 12 in 2024. Flag football will also make its Olympic debut in the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. The sport has been buoyed by the powerful NFL, which has poured millions into equipment, grants and organizing high school leagues and regional championships at the youth level.
Claveran isn’t surprised by the sport’s rapid growth. He’s been coaching flag football for several years and knows why it appeals to so many people, especially girls.
“The best thing I love about flag football is it provides women of all shapes, sizes and skills an opportunity to be on the field,” Claveran said. “A lot of sports are really focused on having a specific body style, but flag football gives a diverse group of individuals the opportunity to come together, compete physically and express themselves in different ways. I think that’s why it’s so popular and it’ll continue to go in that direction.”
