Girls’ flag football is here. For coach Tyla Wilder, this is just the beginning

DENVER — With 12 minutes on the clock, the George Washington Patriots trailed by 16.

“I think a lot of teams down 6-22 look at that score and say, ‘we have no way of winning this game,’” said Patriots coach Tyla Wilder.

But Wilder and her team learned long ago not to give up without a fight.

This year marks the state’s first official season for high school girls’ flag football. After the Colorado High School Athletic Association approved the sport last spring, teams across the state have taken to the field.

But with new beginnings have come new challenges.

For three quarters, the Patriot’s offense failed to deliver. Wilder remained relentless in her positivity.

“We stay focused. We stay locked in. We stay poised,” she told players during a huddle in the 4th quarter.

Suddenly, a string of touchdowns, two point conversions and interceptions brought the Patriots within one touchdown of the lead.

For Coach Wilder, the season’s challenges have included recruiting a team, assembling volunteers and dealing with unsolicited advice.

“I still think we've got a long way to go with women's and men's sports being equal,” said Wilder.

The George Washington flag football team warms up before their game against Northfield. Photo: Cormac McCrimmon, Rocky Mountain PBS

From the ground up

Before this year, Wilder had never picked up a football — her sport was basketball. In high school, Wilder wore the same forest green jersey her players now sport. She graduated from George Washington in 2014 and played hoops at College of St. Benedict in Minnesota.

Now pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology, Wilder drives from Colorado Springs to Denver five days a week to coach the team.

“I am not Tyla getting my Ph.D. without George Washington High School, so it's always been about giving back for me,” she said. “Once you get here and you build relationships, it's hard to let them go.”

Wilder sees a parallel between the current moment and the moment when older players paved the way for her to play women’s basketball.

“There was no football when I was growing up, and here we are. It’s huge” she said.

One of the biggest challenges was convincing students — many of whom were already juggling a full slate of activities — to join the team.

“I used to think football was a sport for men,” said junior Madisyn Honeycutt as she showed off her pink wide receiver gloves.

“The white [gloves], they're okay. But I really like these ones because they're just girly,” she said.

Honeycutt grew up in a football family. Her older brother plays wide receiver at Eastern Washington University and her younger brother plays pee wee, but she never saw herself playing.

“I never liked the contact, the ball throwing at 100 miles an hour, but once I actually came to the tryouts I was like, this is pretty fun. I see why they do it,” she said.

In addition to the lack of tackling, flag football features a modified set of rules. Players play on a smaller 80-by-40 yard field, they can’t use their hands when blocking, and the clock rarely stops.

Knowing from experience the pressure sports can put on athletes, Wilder has chosen a different approach.

“Fun is how you get them here,” said Wilder. “But I really like developing them as people. It's about preparing them for when they leave George.”

Going into the fourth quarter, the Patriots trailed 6-22. Photo: Cormac McCrimmon, Rocky Mountain PBS

A long way to go

With 40 seconds left, first-year quarterback K'Dence Thomas took the snap. The ball was high. She decided to run it herself. As one Northfield defender lunged for her flag, Thomas dashed outside and bounded into the endzone. George Washington 26. Northfield 22.

With less than a minute on the clock K’Dence Thomas carried the team to the lead. Photo: Cormac McCrimmon, Rocky Mountain PBS

After seizing the lead, the Patriots defense shut down Northfield's last possession. Players shook hands then rushed to the sideline to celebrate their victory.

“It’d be great if I wasn’t stressed for three quarters, but seriously I trust you with everything in me, everything in me,” Wilder told her team.

Despite the success Wilder has found this year, leading her team into first place among the eight teams in the 4A city division, she thinks “there’s a long way to go.”

“I’m young and I’m a female in a male dominated world,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of unsolicited advice, whether it’s from the dads or whether it’s the refs or other coaches, but the advice only comes when we’re losing, right?”

Brooke Hunter and Madisyn Honeycutt celebrate the team’s win in style. Cormac McCrimmon, Rocky Mountain PBS

“People don't expect us to be able to fight like we can. We fight just like everybody else. We play just like everybody else,” said Mena Kolozs. Cormac McCrimmon, Rocky Mountain PBS

“People don't expect us to be able to fight like we can. We fight just like everybody else. We play just like everybody else,” said senior Mena Kolozs.

With two games left in the regular season, George Washington stands undefeated in its division and 8-4 overall. Wilder hopes to lead her team to a state title, but for now, the focus remains on having fun.

“I'm not putting that pressure on them or us as coaches. We're going to go as far as we can,” said Wilder.