| She’s not just “one of the guys.” She is actually better than all of the guys. And not just the ones on her team. But she is better than all of the guys in the entire league. In fact, it’s safe to say that she may be the best 11-year-old running back in the entire country without regards to gender. Autaliah Williams rushed for 30 touchdowns this season and averaged four touchdowns per game! Her teammates call her the ATM; the Automatic Touchdown Machine, because it seems like every time she gets the ball she scores a touchdown. Autaliah isn’t the only girl on her team, but she is the most impactful. She plays for the Southeast Saints in Yakima, Washington. The Southeast Saints are part of the Yakima Valley Grid Kids program. Their stated purpose is “to provide and promote the opportunity for youth to participate in a structured youth football program.” Autaliah is in the sixth grade and attends Franklin Middle School in Yakima, Washington. Football is not just about fun and games for Autaliah. According to her mother Priscilla, Autaliah has a pretty hot temper and playing football was just supposed to be a way for her to channel her aggression. No one expected her to be so good at it. Her first year she actually wasn’t that good, but now she is more focused and taking the game more seriously, and is kicking butt and taking names this year! She is showing everybody that football is not just for boys anymore. Autaliah is just one of a growing number of girls across the country who are playing football. Estimates place the number of female high school football players at approximately 1,700 this year. Joe Mazur of ABC11.com brought us the story of Breana Garcia, an 8th grade girl who plays right guard and kicker, and is known as one of the most aggressive players on her team. Also, the Niagara Gazette introduced us to 13-year-old captain Kendra Cheers of Edward Town Middle School. Additionally, there is Shelly Osborne of Jefferson High School in Indiana. She has signed with Campbellsville University in Kentucky where she will become the first female to play defensive back in college football. And, not only are more and more girls playing football, but they are beating out a lot of boys for starting positions on their high school football teams, and some are even earning college scholarships while there are many boy players who failed to earn one. Annie Oakley would be very proud of these girls for showing the boys that 'Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better.' (click here if you have no idea what that means) |
| Girl, Is She Good! |
Watch ABC11.com coverage of Breana Garcia
