On August 23, during the first Varsity football game of the season against Chico Panthers, Nevada Union High School had just scored their first touchdown and the team was getting close to the end zone when the team’s kicker Kaylin Williams made history.
The high school senior kicked the extra point before a cheering audience of roughly 1,500 people, becoming the first female to score a point for Nevada Union’s Varsity team. Disguised by a helmet and bulky shoulder pads, many in the stadium were unaware that number 12 is a girl.
“After the fact, I thought, ‘I just did this for varsity with a lot bigger guys and a lot more expectation behind it. It was almost unbelievable,’” said Williams. The Miners won the game, 21- 14.
Making history is nothing new for Williams, now in her third football year at Nevada Union. She has always set high expectations for herself and two years ago, she became the first female to make a point for Nevada Union’s JV team.
“I try to be a leader,” she said.
A soccer player for 12 years, Williams thought it would be fun to help manage the JV team during her sophomore year. The team needed a kicker and Williams’ soccer experience caught the attention of the JV head coach at the time, Brad Dal Bon.
“I thought it was a joke at first. I was stunned and shocked but also thought, ‘this is really cool.’ He believed in me and gave me an opportunity, so I made the best of it,” said Williams, who last year played running back and could take a tackle. This year is different, with some of the senior players weighing 200 pounds.
“Now it’s varsity level. I’ll just stick to kicking,” she said.
Williams says she enjoys the fitness challenge, the community and the energy of a Friday night football game.
“Everyone shows up for a football game. Everyone cheers you on and cheers the team on,” said Williams who grew up in a soccer family.
Over the years, the camaraderie among teammates has grown.
“A lot of my teammates are super supportive and almost like brothers to me. It’s a different kind of experience and surroundings. It’s next level motivation, commitment and a higher training level,” said Williams who is in the process of applying to colleges and soccer scholarships with plans to become an architect some day. She is starting to realize the significance of this time.
“I’m a senior. This is the last time I’m going to do this,” said Williams.
Though it’s uncommon at Nevada Union, girls are becoming more of a visible part of high school football teams across the nation. The number of girls playing flag football at high schools in the U.S. doubled to 11,000 between 2008 and 2019. From 2019 to 2022, that number jumped 40 percent to 15,716, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. Girls on boys tackle-football teams increased 39 percent to 3,633, during that period, according to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle.
In 2023, Girls flag football became a sanctioned high school sport in California. Currently, Nevada Union does not have a flag football team. Williams is known to dominate in PowderPuff football.
Head Coach of the Varsity team Brad Sparks says he would love to see a flag football team at Nevada Union where girls like Williams can compete at a high level with other schools in the state.
For now, Williams is a respected member of the team of 47 boys.
“I don’t see Kaylin any different than a guy on the team. She shows up every day and she is respected and admired by her teammates and the coaching staff. She brings energy, accountability, trustworthiness and commitment. She is a great person to have around,” said Sparks.
To get the full schedule of Nevada Union High School football games, visit https://www.maxpreps.com/ca/grass-valley/nevada-union-miners/football/schedule/
The NU Miners won last night’s away game at Bella Vista 28-14.
Laura Petersen is a freelance writer who lives in Grass Valley. Contact her at laurapetersenmedia@gmail.com