High school flag football begins on Saturday, Aug. 9 with the Terrier Touchdown Tournament at Redlands High.
In other games involving Redlands teams, Redlands East Valley hosts Corona at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12 and Citrus Valley is at Rancho Cucamonga at 6 p.m. the same day.
The second season of Citrus Belt League play begins in September.
Beaumont High, with about 3,400 students, has begun to flex its muscles in some CBL sports. It won both the tackle and flag football titles last season.
The Cougars were especially dominant in flag football, winning every league game by at least two touchdowns. Citrus Valley finished in second place, REV third, Cajon fourth, Yucaipa fifth and Redlands sixth.
“It should be a good race,” Beaumont coach Frank Kingsley said. “There are a lot of good teams.”
Said Cajon coach Jeff Imbriani, “I think it will be tighter than last year.”
There are also some new rules this season as punting has been added to the mix and blitzing of the quarterback will be allowed from one yard behind the line of scrimmage.
Here is a peek at each of the CBL teams, in alphabetical order:
BEAUMONT
Coach: Frank Kingsley
2024: 15-1 overall
Outlook: Beaumont lost star quarterback Jasmin Craner to graduation. She is now at the University of Redlands. Craner completed nearly 70 percent of her passes last season for 4,022 yards and 56 touchdowns, with five interceptions.
Kingsley has two good options at QB with sophomore Tessa Martinez and senior Laylene Fontes.
“Both can chuck it,” Kingsley said.
Back at receiver for Beaumont is sophomore Lily Nunez, who had 1,046 yards receiving on 68 catches last season with 11 TDs. She is the younger sister of former Beaumont star receiver Gabe Nunez.
Also returning is senior Francheska Dizon, who caught 44 passes for 627 yards and nine TDs last season. She will be joined by freshman Capri Capote who Kingsley is enthused about.
“She’s amazing,” Kingsley said. “She’s long and tall and really high-points the ball.”
Junior slot back Brianna Hypolite is another pass catching option for Beaumont. She had five catches for 90 yards last season.
Running backs for Beaumont are Marian Oladeinde and Mia Chavez.
Top defenders for the Cougars are linebackers Doris Arko-Mensah, cornerback Isabella Feldman, cornerback Iliana Ramos, and linebacker Kiera Houston. All made the All-CBL team last season.
Beaumont made it to the section playoffs last season where it was edged in the first round 27-26 by Warren of Downey.
CAJON
Coach: Jeff Imbriani
2024: 9-7
Outlook: Imbriani will choose between Janiya Damora and Ilene Garcia at quarterback.
Cajon has two all-league receivers returning in Vanessa Sepulveda and Sylen Rucker. Other promising pass catchers are Jasmine Jackson and Payton Stewart.
Returning All-CBL linebacker Rylee Torres leads the Cajon defense. Other Cajon defenders to watch are cornerback Zamera Bruce, cornerback Sepulveda and safety Jackson.
Cajon had one of the better CBL defenses last season, losing to Beaumont by only 20-7 and 32-19.
CITRUS VALLEY
Coach: Cassondra Delgado
2024: 8-4
Outlook: Citrus Valley, after finishing second in the CBL race last season, defeated Loara of Anaheim 31-6 in the playoffs, then fell 20-18 to Loma Linda Academy.
Sophomore Thalina Barber is at quarterback for the Blackhawks.
Citrus Valley’s pass-catching threats are senior Kassidy Harris and sophomore Liliana Gonzalez.
Junior Maryssa Torres is at running back.
Leading the Blackhawk defense is Harris.
“The girls have a good mindset and are coachable and hard workers,” Delgado said. “Things should be competitive this season. I’m excited to compete.”
REDLANDS
Coach: April Berry
2024: 1-15
Outlook: The Terriers won their first flag football game in history on October 9, defeating Arlington 25-18. Redlands will seek more success this season with senior quarterback Kaylianne Martinez behind center.
Martinez has a pair of returning all-league targets in wide receiver/running backs Sadie Herford and Makayla Stark. Herford is a junior and Stark a sophomore.
Returning all-leaguer Lindsey Reyes leads the defense at safety. Other Terriers to keep an eye on are junior linebacker Venice Salvador, sophomore cornerback Isabella Rangel and senior linebacker Ella Witham.
REDLANDS EAST VALLEY
Coach: Andrew Saibene
2024: 9-6
Outlook: REV returns one of the league’s better players in sophomore quarterback Charlotte Cox. She threw for 2,299 yards and 27 touchdowns last season, with 19 interceptions. Cox completed 68 percent of her passes and rushed for 693 yards and five scores.
Junior Milee Najera returns at receiver. She caught 54 passes for 790 yards and 12 TDs last season and is a returning all-leaguer, like Cox.
Also back at receiver for REV is sophomore Cami Towns who caught 18 passes last season for 316 yards and three TDs.
Senior Layla Robinson moves from receiver to running back. She caught 25 passes for 288 yards and six TDs last season.
Other Wildcats to watch are receiver/middle linebacker Ainsley Andrews and receiver/linebacker Nakyiah Daniels.
YUCAIPA
Coach: Torin Setlich
2024: 2-8
Outlook: The Thunderbirds’ only victories last season were against Redlands. They will look to improve under new coach Torin Setlich. Setlich will direct the Yucaipa defense and assistant coach Wil Goff will call the offensive plays.
“We’re very excited to get the season started,” Goff said. “We have an amazing group of young ladies in the program.”
Junior quarterback Jennie Valasquez will lead the Yucaipa offense. A main target for Velasquez is receiver Madeline Randolph. Kaylynn Smith is at running back.
Returning all-leaguer Sam Marini leads the defense. Other defensive standouts for Yucaipa are backs Natalee Reimer and Skyler Nayler and linebacker Acacia Smith.
