CSCS Lions Take the Big Stage at the Inaugural Pikes Peak Kickoff Classic

Friday night was about more than the final score. It was about opportunity, growth, and representing CSCS on one of the biggest stages in our city.

On Friday, August 28, the CSCS Girls Varsity Flag Football team took the field at Weidner Field as part of the inaugural Pikes Peak Kickoff Classic, an event designed to showcase local student athletes and celebrate the continued growth of football in the Pikes Peak region.

And our Lions had the honor of helping kick it all off.

A Big Stage for Girls Flag Football

The Pikes Peak Kickoff Classic brought high school football to Weidner Field, the home of the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, for the first time. The evening began with CSCS taking on Fountain Fort Carson in girls varsity flag football before Palmer Ridge and La Cueva of New Mexico took the field for the tackle football matchup.

Local media recognized just how significant the opportunity was. KKTV described the Classic as a chance to put local teams on what was likely their biggest stage yet, while KRDO highlighted the historic nature of bringing both flag and tackle football to Weidner Field for the first time.

For our girls, being selected to participate was something worth celebrating in itself.

Ahead of the game, CSCS Head Coach Aaron Moore told The Gazette that the Lions were honored to have been selected by the Pikes Peak Athletic Foundation and excited for the opportunity to represent a rapidly growing sport on a larger stage in Colorado Springs. Senior quarterback Hayley Helwege shared that just a year ago, she never would have imagined playing flag football in a stadium and event of this size.

That perspective matters.

Girls flag football is growing quickly, and our Lions had the opportunity to be part of that growth, representing CSCS in front of our community and helping show the next generation of girls what is possible.

Competing, Learning, and Growing

The Lions struck first Friday evening when Helwege connected with Anna Glojek on fourth down to give CSCS a 7 to 0 lead in the second quarter. Fountain Fort Carson answered and ultimately pulled away for a 20 to 7 victory, handing CSCS its first loss of the young season.

Of course, we compete to win. But athletics at CSCS has never been only about the scoreboard.

We often say that sometimes you learn more when you lose than when you win.

Losses reveal opportunities to grow. They challenge athletes to respond with humility, discipline, and resilience. They give teams a chance to study what happened, make adjustments, and come back stronger.

That is exactly what our Lions will do.

Coach Moore told The Gazette after the game that he was proud of the way his team handled the moment. The girls had worked incredibly hard leading into Friday, including doubling up practices on some days, and remained composed despite playing in such a unique environment.

That effort deserves recognition.

We are proud of these young women not simply because of what they accomplish when the scoreboard goes their way, but because of the way they prepare, compete, encourage one another, and respond when things do not.

Proud to Be Lions

Friday gave our athletes an experience they will remember long after this season is over.

They participated in media day. They represented their school alongside athletes from across the region. They walked onto the field of a professional stadium. They competed under the lights with their teammates beside them and the CSCS community cheering them on.

And they became part of the first chapter of a new Colorado Springs sporting tradition.

The inaugural Classic was created not only as a showcase but also as a fundraiser supporting the Pikes Peak Athletic Foundation and its work to strengthen opportunities for student athletes throughout the region.

We are grateful to the Pikes Peak Athletic Foundation and everyone who made this experience possible, and we are thankful for the families, students, staff, and fans who showed up to support our Lions.

Most importantly, we are incredibly proud of our girls.

One game does not define a team, and one loss certainly does not define a season.

The work continues. The lessons from Friday come with us. Next week brings another opportunity to compete, grow, and represent CSCS well.

We are proud of you, Lions. Now, on to the next one.