-Editorial
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) officially added girls’ flag football as a sanctioned sport for the 2023–24 school year, marking a significant step in providing female athletes the opportunity to showcase their skills on the high school stage. As part of this historic season, five Imperial Valley teams qualified for the CIF San Diego Section (SDS) playoffs, but only one—Imperial’s Lady Tigers—remains in contention for a championship.
Vincent Memorial, Brawley, Calexico, and Central battled fiercely in their respective brackets but fell short of advancing further. Vincent Memorial, seeded #8 in Division I, edged Cathedral Catholic 25-24 in a thrilling opener but succumbed to top-seeded Classical Academy 27-0 in the quarterfinals. Brawley, the #11 seed in Division I, faced an early playoff exit after a 25-14 loss to Academy of Our Lady of Peace.
In Division II, Calexico, the #4 seed, defeated Imperial in a dramatic 32-26 overtime clash but was forced to forfeit due to roster discrepancies, allowing Imperial to advance. The Lady Tigers, who also secured a 19-7 win over Tri-City Christian in the first round, will now face Carlsbad in the semifinals. A win would send them to the championship game, where they could face either Cinderella #11 San Dieguito Academy or powerhouse #2 Westview.
CIF San Diego Rankings
Leading the pack is Classical Academy (Escondido) with a stellar 24-4 overall record and an impressive strength rating of 15.5. Their dominance on the field has cemented them as the team to beat, having already showcased their prowess in the playoffs. Trailing them are Torrey Pines (San Diego) at 17-7 with a 13.5 strength rating and Westview (San Diego), boasting a 15-3 record with a 3.9 rating.
The Imperial Valley teams have made their mark in the rankings, with Vincent Memorial (Calexico) leading the way as the #8-ranked team. With a 15-3 record and a 4.3 strength rating, the Lady Scots have shown they belong among the best in the section. Despite a quarterfinal loss to Classical Academy, Vincent Memorial’s strong season earned them recognition as one of the Valley’s premier teams.
The Brawley Lady Wildcats hold the #14 spot with a 17-8 record and a 7.8 strength rating. Their strong season ended in a first-round playoff loss. Meanwhile, the Calexico Lady Bulldogs rank #18 with an 11-9 record and a 7.8 strength rating, while the Imperial Lady Tigers sit at #19, posting a 15-8 season and a 5.3 rating.
Other notable teams in the rankings include Mira Mesa (San Diego), ranked #4 with a 17-4 record, and Grossmont (El Cajon), ranked #5 with a 16-5 record. These teams have consistently battled against high-caliber competition, solidifying their spots near the top of the leaderboard.
Otay Ranch (Chula Vista) is another standout at #6, finishing the regular season with an impressive 13-1 record and a 5.0 strength rating. Additionally, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace (San Diego), ranked #7, and Poway, ranked #9.
