Liberty girls flag football makes postseason in first season

In the first season of girls flag football, the Liberty Patriots advanced to the KingCo Tournament with a record of 9-6.

Liberty finished their regular season on a five-game win streak, defeating their travel partner and rival Hazen, 22-2.

The Patriots had over 40 girls come out to play a sport in its first season, under legendary football coach Brent Kawaguchi.

“It’s been so fun. They pay attention, play hard and are fast learners. It’s a fun year and I’m glad we are continuing on for a few games,” Kawaguchi said.

For the first season, Kawaguchi couldn’t have been more impressed with how much his team learned the game of football.

Liberty head football coach Steve Valach is the offensive coordinator for the girls flag football team. The players constantly ask how close flag football is to tackle football — and in some cases, it’s more detail-oriented than the boys.

“It is almost more technical because we are just dealing with running backs receivers and quarterbacks. Their curiousness of football has been fun. Everything has been positive about this,” Kawaguchi said.

Senior Grace Law played quarterback and defensive back for Liberty in the win over Hazen.

Grace Law is the Liberty quarterback in their first season. Ben Ray / The Reporter

“I’ve met new people and made new friends. It’s a really good community too. We’ve all come together,” Law said.

Kawaguchi is impressed with his senior leadership, but also the speed at which the girls learn football lingo and apply what they learned to game scenarios.

“They are fast learners and want to learn,” he said.

In terms of players on the field, along with Law is fellow senior Kaila Siu. The senior who doubles as the Patriot softball team’s centerfielder threw for a touchdown and caught an interception on back-to-back plays for Liberty.

“She is 100% all the time. I’m gonna miss her. She does some amazing stuff. But she’s just one of the team. Kids treat her that way and she treats the team that way,” Kawaguchi said.

It’s special to see firsthand a sport develop like flag football — a new sport during the cold and wet season that was a change for every girl involved.

For Grace Law, it was a decision that she will be forever grateful she took.

“I’ve never tried this before. It was a really cool, new experience,” Law said.

Law is a senior who made new friends and played a sport that was different, but one that she fell in love with.

“It almost felt empowering too. As a senior I’m about to leave, so it feels like I am making a mark,” Law said. “Trying new things opens up so many opportunities for you. This has opened up opportunities for me to make friends, learn to play football and attempt being a quarterback and have fun.”

Team culture is hard to come by, and many programs are constantly searching for it. The Liberty girls team found a culture around positivity and work ethic.

That culture showed in the game against Hazen where on the first play, the ball was snapped right through Law’s hands and went into the end zone for a safety.

From that moment forward, the Patriots didn’t allow any points while scoring three touchdowns to take down the Highlanders.

The Patriots’ defense has been one of the best in KingCo based on points allowed. Liberty has allowed just 12.4 points per game across all contests — that is enough for eighth best in the entire KingCo League, which consists of 22 teams.

In the KingCo Crest Division, specifically, that number is the third best out of 10 teams. Kawaguchi doesn’t really know how his team does it.

“They are just good and listen to what we do. I don’t even know how they are so good,” Kawaguchi said.

This year is the first year that there is a legit postseason tournament. Liberty heads to the KingCo Tournament and then a district tournament follows before a Western Washington girls flag football championship takes place.

“I’m so excited. I didn’t expect us to get this far because nobody has done it before. It’s so exciting,” Law said.

On the Liberty roster are nine seniors. It is bittersweet for them to start something that they can only contribute one year to.

“I told the seniors I am so sorry that this is the only year we get to go with them,” Kawaguchi said.

As one of the nine seniors, Law thinks the impact this first year makes will jump-start flag football at Liberty. Thanks to the team and coaches, “I felt like I was a big part of starting something that has so much potential here at Liberty. The coaches are great, we are so lucky to have Kawaguchi,” Law said.