The program began after a local flag football league connected Hays CISD to the Dallas Cowboys, who have been donating items to school districts across Texas to grow the sport.

“They provided everything financially: they pay for the officials that come officiate the game; they gave uniforms; they gave us packages with game balls, pylons — the things you set up in the end zone — cones to use, flags to use; they gave everything to us,” said Hays CISD assistant athletic director Dusty Gibbs.

So, after receiving the donation from the National Football League team, the district communication team sent out interest surveys to all girls at Hays, Johnson and Lehman high schools to gauge whether there was any intrigue.

Flag football, according to Gibbs, is a wide-open, fast-paced version of football, where instead of tackling an opponent, their flag is pulled instead to make the ball “dead at that spot.”

He noted that the sport has gained traction over the years, with nearby districts, such as Austin ISD, adding the sport and it recently being recognized in the Olympics, which made district leadership discuss the opportunity for students. Flag football has also been discussed at the University Interscholastic League to determine whether to sanction it as a sport for schools.

“There was a lot of interest in this [from students] and what was real appealing to this is we always look at the data before we do these things and the Dallas Cowboys actually provided [information] that about 50% to 60% of the girls that participate in flag football don’t play other sports. So, that was important to us. It’s another way to get more kids involved [in an activity],” Gibbs said.

Then, coaches from each high school eagerly volunteered to work with the girls and facilitated the tryouts that led to the now three established teams. Although there is currently one team of seven students, Gibbs stated that there are additional students to fill in gaps when other commitments come up, as some students are in other sports, as well.

The first tournament was hosted March 28, said Gibbs, but each team has played four games, with the records as follows:

• Hays High School: 3-1

• Lehman High School: 4-0

• Johnson High School: 2-1-1

“You don’t really know what to expect when it’s something new and when we hosted at the end of March, I was there for the whole tournament that morning and … [the games] may have been one of the most awesome experiences I’ve ever had in coaching and I’ve been doing this for 20 years,” explained Gibbs. “I went and talked to some of the girls that were playing and a couple of the girls were like, ‘This is the coolest thing I’ve ever done.’ The gameplay was wonderful; we have tremendous athletes out here.”

Not only has the program brought the ability to encourage students who were previously uninvolved in sports to join a new activity, but it allows athletes to continue training throughout the offseason. Gibbs stated that when students are involved in sports, their grades, attendance, mental health, social lives and more improve.

As the season continues, the director shared that Hays CISD is hoping to continue its partnership with the Dallas Cowboys and grow the program, as long as the interest is there, including a potential junior varsity team.

He did state that, currently, the district isn’t looking into a male league because many of the traditional football students participate in a sport called 7-on-7. Although it isn’t an official district sport, nearly every player participates outside of school in the off season, so there isn’t a need currently.

Hays CISD will host a second flag football tournament from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 25, at Bob Shelton Stadium. The event is ticketed at $5 per adult and $3 per child.

“It is an awesome experience and those girls do a great job. The sportsmanship is great [and] the competitive play is great. You’ll see some very good athletes on the 25th for those people who want to come out,” concluded Gibbs.

In addition to being the first district game, the team hosted First Responder Appreciation Night. Members of the Kyle Police Department, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office and the Kyle Fire Department were in attendance to cheer on the Lobos. KPD Chief Jeff Barnett was able to throw the honorary first pitch for the night.

The Lobos went on to best Lockhart 4-2 Friday, March 13. After two midday games against the Cedar Park High School Timberwolves March 17 and 18, and two away games the following week, the Lobos’ next home game will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, when they will host the Leander High School Lions.

The lone goal of the match came early in the first half when Hawk Alegria Cole (No. 22) found the back of the net to give Hays a 1-0 advantage. From that point on, the Hawks’ defense stood tall, shutting down multiple Lobo scoring opportunities and preserving the narrow lead.

Hays’ back line and goalkeeper combined for a strong defensive performance, keeping Lehman off the scoreboard and securing the hard-fought 1-0 victory.

The Hawks’ next home game will be Friday, Feb. 20, against Leander High School.

The Lobos will host Cedar Park High School at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20.

The team will travel to Dripping Springs High School Thursday, Feb. 19, to face Richardson’s Pearce High School and San Marcos High School at noon and 5 p.m., respectively.

In addition to the win, which sent the Hawks to playoffs, senior Endia Stigall (No. 5) scored her 2,000th career point. She has more than 450 career steals, 430 career assists and 350 career boards. Hays ended the regular season with an overall record of 21-13 and a district record of 8-6. The team will face San Antonio’s Wagner High School for the Bi-District round of playoffs at press time Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Recently, Hays and Lehman high school students competed in the We Are Blood High School Heroes blood drive competition. Hays registered 66 donors and received 49 units of blood. Lehman won the competition by registering 111 donors and bringing in 76 units of blood. During the Feb. 10 game, Lehman principal James Cruz accepts the trophy and a check for the school.

Lehman’s next home game will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, when it hosts Leander High School.

Following the press time home game against Glenn High School Tuesday, Jan. 27, the Lobos will travel to Leander High School for a 7 p.m. tipoff Friday, Jan. 30.

Lehman will visit Lockhart High School at press time Jan. 20 to take on the Lions, before hosting Cedar Park High School at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23.

The Hawks will travel to Cedar Park High School at press time Jan. 20. The team’s next home game will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, against Leander High School.

The Lehman High School boys basketball team played against the Regents High School Knights Thursday, Dec. 4. The close game ended in a 46-42 loss for the Lobos. 

The boys team ended the tournament with a 2-2 record, making it a Silver Bracket finalist. The Lobos will begin district play on the road against Glenn High School at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19.

On Friday, Dec. 5, the Lady Lobos took on the Liberal Arts & Science Academy- Austin (LASAA) Raptors, losing 46-38. The team went on to beat Akins High School and San Antonio’s Highlands High School, making its tournament record 3-1 and earning third place overall. The next home game for the Lady Lobos will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, when they face Cedar Park High School. 

The Lobos will host Crockett High School at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, before starting district play on the road against Lockhart High School Friday, Dec. 12.

The team will travel to Cedar Park to take on the Timberwolves at press time Tuesday, Oct. 7, before returning home to host the Lockhart High School Lions at 6: 30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10.

The Jaguars defeated the Lobos 12-5. The Lobos closed out the regular season over the weekend, while the Jaguars have one last game against Davenport High School at press time Tuesday, Sept. 30.

The Lobos went on to lose 3-0 to Glenn High School on Friday, Sept. 19. At press time Tuesday, Sept. 23, they will host Rouse High School. A string of away games will follow, with the next home game falling on Friday, Oct. 10, when the Lobos with have an opportunity to beat the Lions once more.

The team will travel to Pflugerville to take on Weiss High School Friday, Sept. 19, before returning home to host the College Station High School Cougars at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26.