As the final horn sounded Thursday evening at Garry Berry Stadium and Palmer players returned to their sideline, coaches greeted their athletes with encouragement.

Palmer players high-fived and remained positive despite the outcome, an 8-0 loss to Colorado Springs Christian. They huddled when their coach shared a succinct message.

“Don’t worry,” Terrors coach Ryan Chesla said, “we’ll bounce back from this one.”

It’s the Terrors’ first year of flag football and Palmer dropped to 1-1 following the home loss to the Lions. The Terrors are one of two new area schools competing this season. Fountain-Fort Carson also joined the fray of more than 70 flag football teams in Colorado.

The chance to have girls compete in football isn’t just a memorable moment for the athletes. Parents said they also cherish the opportunity.

“It’s cool that girls are showing up and showing that they can play in a boys sport,” Lindsay Harrison, mother of Noa Harrison said. “This shows how tough they are.”

Harrison, who graduated from Palmer in 2002, said watching Palmer play flag football is a “full-circle moment.” Chesla, who is also a Palmer graduate, is Harrison’s brother and Noa, who’s a freshman, serves as quarterback for the Terrors.

Noa played flag football in elementary school and was the lone girl on her team. Harrison said Noa was the team’s best player on her previous flag football team and she continues to display that prowess. Noa also earned the distinction of “captain.” While playing the field general comes with pressure, Noa said she’s not letting it affect her.

“I’ve learned to trust my coaches, my teammates and most importantly, myself,” Noa said. “After every game I know that I have ways to improve and I just have to do the best I can. That’s all I can do.”

After the Colorado High School Activities Association sanctioned the sport in April 2024, Harrison and Noa noted their gratitude for the opportunity. Harrison said, “we’re a football family” and showcased that after Palmer’s contest at Garry Berry as Harrison entered the field sporting a gold hat with purple “LSU” stitching, symbolizing her love for Louisiana State University football.

“This is a great opportunity and it’s good to have a sport that’s in its first year,” Noa said. “We can make a lot of improvements to our games and have our fans cheer us on and show that Palmer is good at this.”

After the Terrors tallied 26 points in their inaugural contest against Vanguard, Palmer struggled to move the ball against Colorado Springs Christian. Noa said she and her teammates aren’t thrilled with the outcome of Thursday’s tilt, but understand the season is young.

“This game wasn’t our best, but there’s a lot to learn from this experience,” Noa said. “We have a lot that we can change and a lot to help us get better.”

For Colorado Springs Christian, which finished 2024 with a 3-11 record, the road victory matches their total from last season. The Lions also struggled to move the ball and turned it over on downs three times in the red zone.

The Lions’ lone score prior to the fourth quarter came after the Terrors snapped the ball over Noa’s head and into the end zone for a safety in the first quarter. Colorado Springs Christian quarterback Hayley Helwege said her coach Aaron Moore encouraged her to continue to look downfield for a deep pass opportunity.

With five minutes left on third and long from midfield, Helwege rifled a pass over the defense and found Julia Sherbondy, who reached the end zone.

“I trusted my teammate and I trusted that she would catch it,” Helwege said. “We worked on that play multiple times in practice and it was the effort and consistency that let us know it would be there.”

Sherbondy said Helwege worked “all week” to perfect a pass to the sideline and nailed it in a clutch moment.

“She’s worked so hard on getting the ball where it needed to be and where her placement is,” Sherbondy said. “When the girls really want it and we get where we’re supposed to be, we can honor the Lord through that and encourage each other.”