Portola flag football team celebrates first league crown, prepares for CIF playoffs

Portola’s flag football team celebrated a league championship. (Photo courtesy Portola athletics).

Portola High School’s girls flag football team captured the first Pacific Coast League championship for the program and the Bulldogs now await the start of the CIF playoffs.

CIF playoff pairings will be announced Friday.

Portola finished in last place and went winless in league play last year but wound up 13-1 this season. It will be Portola’s first trip to the CIF playoffs.

Portola (23-2 overall) wrapped up league play defeating Laguna Beach 33-6 and University 33-0.

“We hope to advance to the finals in the playoffs and make a run for the championship,” said Coach Julie Primero. “We have strong team chemistry and the girls have each other’s backs. If someone makes a mistake on a play, or gets in their head, they have 19 teammates lifting them back up. We set our goals early in the season and they have been focused on getting better each game, to get to where we want to be.”  

Leading the way for Portola have been quarterbacks Aliyah Wimbley and Chelsea Wong. Amelia Booth has been outstanding on offense and Lea Gutierrez and Arianna Diaz have stood out on defense.

Sophia Reyna, Joey Nesland and Camden Everett have been standouts on both sides of the ball, Primero said.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com