Jurupa Valley's Patriot High has become an unlikely hotbed for girls' flag football

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Set us as preferred Twenty years ago, Patriot High in Jurupa Valley didn’t exist.It was a landscape of rolling hills, sheep and sheepherders.

Now, it is the home of the three-time River Valley Division III girls’ flag football league champions.Despite the difference in fundraising and overall money going toward high school sports programs in middle to lower income areas versus the higher income suburbs, the Patriot girls’ flag football team has thrived.

During a game in October, Bishop-Montgomery girls’ flag football team of Torrance arrived in Jurupa Valley in a fully air conditioned luxury coach bus to play Patriot High.Patriot won 25-7.

Two weeks earlier, the Patriot team rode in a yellow school bus without air conditioning on a 100-degree day to an away game at Ramona.1 2 3 1.

Ninth graders Marley Handley, left, and Audrey Baca take a selfie while riding the bus to a Patriot High girls’ flag football game.2.

Before most games, the team gets ready in the locker room as their coach speaks with the team.Emma Urrutia, right, styles Kayla Reynoso’s hair, middle, as Angelica Reynosa puts on hair spray, left..

3.The Patriot High girls’ flag football team lines up for referee inspection of flags before A Division 3 first round CIF Southern Section playoff game.

Flag football was first invented during World War II as a recreational sport for the military to avoid risk of injuries while playing full-contact football.Organized female flag football leagues began decades later.

There are four quarters, with each lasting 12 minutes.The field is a 80 yards long by 40 yards wide.

Each player wears a thin black belt which is cinched tightly around the waist with one flag attach to each hip.Once a flag is pulled by a defender, the play is over.Senior Alana Carrillo got interested in the sport when she...