The Lions are 10-4, playing some of their best football of the season, and preparing for an exciting postseason opportunity.
What a season it has been for our CSCS Girls Flag Football team! And the best part? Their story isn’t finished yet.
After months of hard work, growth, and some incredible performances on the field, the Lions are headed to the 2026 CHSAA Class 4A State Championships!
CSCS enters the postseason with an impressive 10-4 record, a five-game winning streak, and plenty of momentum. This team has continued to raise expectations throughout the season, and now the Lions have an opportunity to see just how far their determination, preparation, and teamwork can take them.
For a program that continues to establish itself in Colorado high school athletics, this is an exciting moment. And for these young women who have invested so much into this season, it is an opportunity they have earned.
Finishing the Regular Season with Authority
When we last checked in with our Lions, they were celebrating their seniors and reflecting on a season that had already provided plenty of memorable moments. Since then, the team has done something even more exciting: they’ve continued to win.
The Lions closed out their regular season with two commanding victories, defeating The Vanguard School 33-0 on October 6 and Coronado 35-8 on October 7.
In the victory over Vanguard, senior quarterback Hayley Helwege delivered an outstanding performance, completing 23 of 37 passes for 247 yards and five touchdowns. Senior receiver Rylee Gallant was nearly unstoppable, hauling in six receptions for 97 yards and three touchdowns. Sharon Krein added 43 rushing yards, while the defense delivered a complete shutout.
Just one day later, the Lions were back at it against Coronado, and they picked up right where they left off.
Helwege threw for another 224 yards and five touchdowns, marking her second consecutive game with five passing touchdowns. Gallant added two touchdown receptions, while Danika Reinhard and Charis Joyce each recorded an interception.
The defense continued to make its presence felt, recording five sacks, including two apiece from Tashyla Johnson and Ell Thompson.
The Lions outscored their final two opponents by a combined 68-8.
That’s a remarkable way to finish the regular season, especially with the pressure and excitement of the playoffs just around the corner.
Even more impressive, CSCS has now won seven of its last eight road games, demonstrating an ability to compete and deliver results away from home.
A Team That Has Earned Its Opportunity
The road to the playoffs hasn’t been without challenges.
Earlier this season, the Lions had the opportunity to compete on the big stage at Weidner Field during the Pikes Peak Kickoff Classic. They’ve faced difficult opponents, experienced tough losses, and learned what it takes to respond when things don’t go their way.
And respond they have.
This team’s growth has been evident throughout the season, but especially over the last several weeks. Five consecutive victories don’t happen by accident. They are the result of preparation, discipline, trust, and a group of athletes who are committed to competing for one another.
That commitment has helped CSCS earn a place among Colorado’s Class 4A playoff teams.
It’s also a tremendous accomplishment for a program that is helping create new opportunities for female athletes at CSCS.
These young women aren’t simply participating in a growing sport. They are helping build a tradition of excellence that future Lions will have the opportunity to carry forward.
The State Playoffs Are Here!
Now, the focus shifts to the postseason.
CSCS is scheduled to face Steamboat Springs on Saturday, October 17, at 2:15 PM in the opening round of the CHSAA Class 4A State Championships.
The Lions enter the playoffs ranked No. 12 in Colorado’s Class 4A rankings, with a 10-4 overall record and a 4-1 conference record.
This is where the intensity rises. Every possession matters. Every defensive stop becomes more important. Every opportunity to make a play can change the direction of a game.
The Lions have proven they can put points on the scoreboard, but they have also shown they can win through defense, determination, and team effort.
Now they’ll be challenged to bring all of those pieces together against postseason competition.
There is no question that the road ahead will be difficult. But this team has already demonstrated its ability to rise to challenges, and we are excited to see what they can accomplish.
More Than a Playoff Run
As we prepare for this weekend, we also want to recognize what makes this group so special.
Our five seniors, Hayley Helwege, Julia Sherbondy, Sharon Krein, Rylee Gallant, and Tashyla Johnson, have helped lead this program through an important chapter in its development.
Their leadership has been instrumental in welcoming younger players, setting expectations, and creating an environment where athletes can grow in confidence and ability.
And while the seniors have provided tremendous leadership, the entire roster has contributed to this team’s success.
We are grateful for Head Coach Aaron Moore and the coaching staff who have invested their time, knowledge, and energy into developing these young women, both as athletes and as individuals.
At CSCS, athletics is about more than winning games. It’s about developing character, building relationships, learning to persevere, and discovering how to use the gifts God has given us to pursue excellence and glorify Him.
This team has given us so many reasons to be proud.
Lions, We’re Behind You!
To our girls flag football team: we believe in you!
You’ve earned this opportunity. You’ve put in the work, overcome challenges, supported one another, and continued to improve throughout the season.
Now it’s time to take everything you’ve learned and compete with confidence.
Regardless of what happens this weekend, this team has already made an impact on CSCS Athletics. But we know these Lions aren’t satisfied with simply making the playoffs.
They’re ready to compete.
To our CSCS school community, let’s rally behind these incredible young women as they head into the state championships. Encourage them, celebrate what they’ve accomplished, and help us send them into the postseason knowing that an entire community of Lions is cheering them on.
Five straight wins. Ten victories on the season. One incredible opportunity ahead.
The next chapter begins Saturday.
LET’S GO, LIONS!