The word “trailblazers” was used several times by those who spoke during Wednesday morning’s CIF Southern Section girls flag football press conference and luncheon at The Grand in Long Beach.

Flag football is the fastest growing sport in the nation, according to participation numbers by the National Federation of High Schools. Roosevelt and Riverside Poly were among the first in the state to field teams when the California Interscholastic Federation added flag football to its official program of sports in 2023.

And Saturday at El Modena High School’s Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange, these two programs will add to their history by becoming the first Inland teams to play for flag football section championship titles.

Riverside Poly squares off against West Ranch for the Division 4 championship at 9 a.m., and Roosevelt will face La Serna for the Division 3 crown at 3 p.m.

This marks the second season the Southern Section has conducted flag football playoffs. A sixth division had to be added to the schedule this year because of the continued growth (now 315 teams across the section).

Roosevelt coach Jennifer Constuble has been a flag football coach and advocate for more than two decades. Saturday will be a payoff of three years of hard work and dedication by the Mustangs.

“I think this season has been a testament to their willpower and their drive and dedication to be part of something special,” Constuble said. “We had a slow start to this season, but they found their heart and passion in one another and came together as a team at the right time.”

Roosevelt competed in the Division 1 playoffs last season after finishing 16th in the section’s final rankings. The Mustangs played a tough schedule and opened the 2025 campaign with five consecutive losses. Roosevelt started 0-3 in Big VIII League play, as well, but bounced back to finish second at the league’s carousel tournament. The Mustangs knocked off No. 2 seed La Habra and No. 3 seed Mission Viejo on the road to the championship game.

“It shows how much we’ve improved this season,” junior running back Emma Goodland said about the team’s recent surge. “At the beginning of the season, we were just fighting to even make the playoffs. ... I think our attitude towards each other and belief as a team has helped us get to this point.”

Leading the way is senior wide receiver-safety Lotoleilei Sivas, who was the 2024 IE Varsity Player of the Year. Sivas has caught 127 passes for 1,781 yards and 23 touchdowns while also registering 112 flag pulls and 12 interceptions on defense. Goodland leads the ground attack with 1,090 yards and nine touchdowns, and sophomore Peyton Wade has 103 catches for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns. Senior safety April Chavez leads the defense with 147 flag pulls, and junior Milo Joi Seivers is the Mustangs’ rush specialist with 40 sacks this year.

Riverside Poly arguably was the Inland area’s best program that initial season, but the Bears struggled in 2024 and did not earn a spot in the section’s first playoffs. Pat Meech, a veteran boys tackle football coach, took the reins and helped the program get back to that high level of play.

“I’m proud of what these girls have accomplished, and I think this is an important moment for growing the sport,” Meech said. “I came in pretty late, but the girls bought into to everything we want to do and accomplish. They are creating history for the sport, our school and our program.”

Poly finished second in the Ivy League standings this season to secure the program’s first playoff berth. The Bears have showed grit and determination during the postseason, as the four playoff victories have all been decided by less than eight points (average of six points).

“I think our chemistry and just having each others’ backs has been the biggest thing for us,” senior quarterback Brooklyn Snider said. “Football is a team sport, so it can’t just be about the offense or just about the defense. Everyone is doing their job and that has made us successful.”

Snider leads the offense, with her top targets being seniors Katherine Lounsbury, juniors Kaelin Bain and Marley Audoma and sophomores Ashlynn Gillman and Alyssa Mitchell. The defense is led by junior linebacker Isabelle Suarez, senior cornerback Kylee Christmas and Mitchell (safety).

Poly has the first game of the championship session, so the Bears could be the first Inland flag team to win a section title.

“We’re being told every game that we’re making history,” Snider said. “It’s exciting, and we take a lot of pride in that.”

CIF SOUTHERN SECTION FLAG FOOTBALL FINALS

ROOSEVELT (14-10)

Coach: Jennifer Constuble (third season)

Offensive Starting Lineup

QB: Karissa Green, Sr.

RB: Emma Goodland, Jr.

WR: Lotoleilei Sivas, Sr.

WR: Peyton Wade, So.

WR: Madeline Leyva, So.

WR: Macy Alviso, So.

C: Aryanna Davila. Jr.

Defensive Starting Lineup

R: Milo Joi Seivers, Jr.

LB: Jordan Walker, Sr.

LB: Angelina Lopez, Sr.

CB: Gianna Valdez, So.

CB: Aliyah Dutt, So.

S: April Chavez, Sr.

S: Lotoleilei Sivas, Sr.

RIVERSIDE POLY (19-11)

Coach: Pat Meech

Offensive Starting Lineup

QB: Brooklyn Snider, Sr.

RB: Amelia Standerfer, Jr.

WR: Kaelin Bain, Jr.

WR: Katherine Lounsbury, Sr.

WR: Alyssa Mitchell, So.

WR: Marley Audoma, Jr.

C: Violet Garcia, Jr.

Defensive Starting Lineup

R: Natalee Hernandez, Jr.

LB: Kaelin Bain, Jr.

LB: Isabelle Suarez, Jr.

CB: Kylee Christmas, Sr.

CB: Jai Dorhan, So.

S: Ashlynn Gillman, So.

S: Alyssa Mitchell, So.