Lady Hippos debut new sports team
PFLUGERVILLE - Flags were thrown all night, but not for game infractions. Instead, it was for the start of girls’ high school flag football last week.
On Wednesday, April 30, the Hutto Lady Hippos competed in the first week of the season at the PField in Pflugerville. In addition to Hutto, the league features Round Rock, Pflugerville, Weiss, Connally, Rouse, McNeil, Westwood and Hendrickson.
The Lady Hippos split the week with a win over Weiss and a loss to Rouse.
'Overall, I think the night went okay,' Head Coach Zachary Samarripa said. 'We got a great win in the first one and got the momentum going. In the second one, played a well-executing team and came up short.'
Samarripa said he knew his players were nervous before the first game, but responded well.
'We talked about how committed we are to this. Then, we went out there and executed on the practice field everyday,' he said. 'The girls come out there determined, ready to work, ready to start things off, and they go execute at a high level when we're practicing, and it showed in the game.'
In the win over Weiss, sophomore Samaya Williams had a rushing touchdown, and senior quarterback Aaliyah McPeak found Amaya Shepard for a second touchdown in the game.
McPeak said she was nervous, but as a senior and the quarterback, she had to lead the team through the first game jitters.
'I had trust and faith in my team. I know everyday we got out there and put in work. We're all very determined to win,' she said. 'Most importantly, it's keeping it fun. You have to know that we all make mistakes, and you have to just keep pushing through it.'
Shepard, a senior and team captain, said her role is to make sure everyone is having fun while still being competitive.
'Everyone is new to it,' she said. 'Just teaching the girls and helping them navigate through the flag world and get them prepared before these games.'
A pass to sophomore Nevaeh Faw for a first down late in the game sealed the victory as the Lady Hippos ran out the clock clinch the win 14-7.
In game two, Hutto faced Rouse, who was led by senior Ava Wallace, a member of the 17U US National Flag team and the Texas Fury flag team in Austin.
Hutto was unable to move the ball on their first possession of the game. On the defensive end, Hutto gave up a 45-yard pass for a touchdown, but stopped the extra point attempt.
On the next possession, a short pass from McPeak to Samya Gray, who ran more than 20 yards, ended at the 2-yard line. Unfortunately, the Rouse defense stopped the Lady Hippos redzone stand.
After two big shots down field by Wallace, Rouse picked up another touchdown. They failed on the extra point attempt and went into halftime ahead 12-0.
Early in the second half, Shepard intercepted a pass, but it was called back for stripping. Rouse picked up one more touchdown and extra point to solidify the victory 19-0. After a tough game against Rouse, Samarripa believes his team will fare well the rest of the season.
'These girls have a tenacity to them. They're all really upset that we lost, but they're not sad upset, they're mad upset. That's a good mindset to have.'
The Lady Hippos, sitting at 1-1, will return to action Wednesday, May 7, at P Field at 5 and 7:30 p.m.
