Created in 2015 with four teams playing a three-game schedule on an elementary school field, the Utah Girls Tackle Football League is believed to be the first in the country that’s just for girls.
The top teams in three divisions faced off at Herriman High School on Thursday for the league’s championships.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah Valley Valkyrie prepare to face the West Jordan Lightning in the Utah Girls Tackle Football League Division 3 championship game at Herriman High School on Thursday, May 27, 2021.
Brent Gordon, whose daughter, Sam, plays for Herriman, told The Salt Lake Tribune in March, “Our goal is to make Utah the birthplace of girls high school football and that goal has not changed.”
“Utah is the only place in the world that girls can play football on all-girls teams,” added Gordon, “and I am extremely proud of all of the thousands of girls ... who have had the courage over the past few years to follow their dream to play a sport they love regardless of whether the state’s leaders and representatives think that football is only for boys.”
(Isaac Hale | Special to The Tribune) Utah Valley’s Jadelyn Peterson (13) is downed by West Jordan’s MaryJane Merriam (50) after driving the ball upfield during a game between the Utah Valley Valkyrie and the West Jordan Lightning as part of the Utah Girls Tackle Football League Championships held at Herriman High School on Thursday, May 27, 2021.
(Isaac Hale | Special to The Tribune) Utah Valley’s Jadelyn Peterson (13) celebrates her touchdown with Charlotte Hansen (1) during a game between the Utah Valley Valkyrie and the West Jordan Lightning as part of the Utah Girls Tackle Football League Championships held at Herriman High School on Thursday, May 27, 2021.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Valley's Hannah Cook as the Utah Valley Valkyrie face the West Jordan Lightning in the Utah Girls Tackle Football League Division 3 championship game at Herriman High School on Thursday, May 27, 2021.
(Isaac Hale | Special to The Tribune) Utah Valley’s Brinley Selk (7) is downed by West Jordan’s Lisia Koloamatangi (76) during a game between the Utah Valley Valkyrie and the West Jordan Lightning as part of the Utah Girls Tackle Football League Championships held at Herriman High School on Thursday, May 27, 2021.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Valley's Ruby Canlas (16) and Brinley Hunter during halftime as the Utah Valley Valkyrie face the West Jordan Lightning in the Utah Girls Tackle Football League Division 3 championship game at Herriman High School on Thursday, May 27, 2021.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Valley's Jadelyn Peterson is tackled by West Jordan's MaryJane Merriam as the Utah Valley Valkyrie face the West Jordan Lightning in the Utah Girls Tackle Football League Division 3 championship game at Herriman High School on Thursday, May 27, 2021.
(Isaac Hale | Special to The Tribune) State championship medals dangle from a coach’s hand as the Utah Valley Valkyrie celebrate their win over the West Jordan Lightning in the first game of the Utah Girls Tackle Football League Championships held at Herriman High School on Thursday, May 27, 2021.
(Isaac Hale | Special to The Tribune) Utah Valley’s Charlotte Hansen (1) celebrates with the rest of the Utah Valley Valkyrie after they defeated the West Jordan Lightning in the first game of the Utah Girls Tackle Football League Championships held at Herriman High School on Thursday, May 27, 2021.
(Isaac Hale | Special to The Tribune) Herriman players make their way off the field just before the start of the second half of a game between the Herriman Sting and the Kearns Cougars as part of the Utah Girls Tackle Football League Championships held at Herriman High School on Thursday, May 27, 2021.
(Isaac Hale | Special to The Tribune) Kearns’ Essence Charles (15) runs the ball upfield during a game between the Herriman Sting and the Kearns Cougars as part of the Utah Girls Tackle Football League Championships held at Herriman High School on Thursday, May 27, 2021.
(Isaac Hale | Special to The Tribune) Kearn’s Raven Toki-Mauigoa (8) falls into the end zone after she was downed just short of the goal line during a game between the Herriman Sting and the Kearns Cougars as part of the Utah Girls Tackle Football League Championships held at Herriman High School on Thursday, May 27, 2021.
(Isaac Hale | Special to The Tribune) Herriman’s Sydni Ohmie (2) is consoled after the Herriman Sting was defeated by the Kearns Cougars during the second game of the Utah Girls Tackle Football League Championships held at Herriman High School on Thursday, May 27, 2021.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Players from Herriman and Kearns gather after their game in the Utah Girls Tackle Football League Division 3 championship game at Herriman High School on Thursday, May 27, 2021.
