Flag Football (Girls) | 9/5/2024 3:32:00 PM

The following is an excerpt from The San Diego Union-Tribune article, "Across-the-street neighbors and on-field foes, Grossmont, Cathedral QBs square off Friday."

Friends since childhood, Marissa Farace and Sina Talataina will face each other on the big stage Friday night.

Farace's Grossmont High School squad will face Talataina and Cathedral Catholic in the first game of the 13th annual Honor Bowl. Kickoff at Cathedral Catholic is scheduled for 5 p.m.

The game marks the first time in Honor Bowl history that flag football teams will play. Farace and Talataina both play the same position: quarterback.

"I'm so looking forward to this," Farace said. "I'm so ready."

Farace and Talataina live across the street from each other. They both attended Fletcher Hills Elementary School. They still talk and text.

"Our goals are the same … win the game," Farace said. "I want to represent Grossmont. I'm sure Sina wants the same for Cathedral Catholic. As the quarterback, it all starts with me. My goal is to stay composed, not get upset. We both want to show people what flag football is all about."

In its second year as a varsity sport, flag football has gone from 44 CIF San Diego Section teams to 72.

Grossmont (2-0) and Cathedral Catholic (3-1) are among the best teams in the county.

Cathedral went 13-3 a year ago, falling to Classical Academy in the CIF San Diego Section Division 2 championship game. Talataina threw 34 touchdown passes.

The Foothillers were 12-5 last season, losing to Torrey Pines in the Division 1 playoffs. Farace, a junior, threw for 2,181 yards and 33 TDs.

Cathedral Catholic will get the full Honor Bowl treatment, busing with the tackle football team for a day with the Marines at Camp Pendleton. Honor Bowl participants receive pregame talks from Wounded Warriors, visits from Gold Star Mothers and the emotional building of the Battle Cross.

The mission of the Honor Bowl is to provide support for veterans, whether it's wheelchairs or support dogs.

Mark Soto, CEO and founder of the Honor Bowl, said he's "ecstatic" to have flag football be part of the two-day showcase. Following Friday's game between Cathedral Catholic and Grossmont, Cathedral's tackle football team will host Phoenix Mountain Pointe at 7:30 p.m.. Saturday's schedule includes a flag game between Classical Academy and Bonita Vista (1 p.m.) and tackle games between Granite Hills and Gilbert (Ariz.) Perry (4 p.m.) and Gardena Serra and Long Beach Poly (7:30 p.m.).

"We saw the energy flag football generated last season and knew we needed to get the girls involved in our event," Soto said. "We have three great boys games, but we also have two great matchups on the girls' side. If people haven't seen flag football before, I think they'll be blown away at how athletic the girls are."

Indeed, both Farace and Talataina have great arms, with the ability to throw the ball 45 to 50 yards. Talataina's father, Toalei, played football at Oregon State

"I wish we had started flag football sooner," said Talataina, who will play softball collegiately at Arizona. "I was ready to try something else. Flag is really fun."

Talataina came out late for the flag team last season and was assigned to the B team. She was on the varsity roster a day later.

"We don't make the CIF championship game without her," Cathedral Catholic coach Ryan Wiegand said. "She changed the dynamic of our team."

Grossmont coach Tony Lawrence said he didn't know what to expect last season, but "once I saw Marissa throw, saw her natural throwing motion, it looked like she had been playing football all her life."

"She has a great arm and wants to throw the home-run ball," he said.

Like Talataina, Farace is a multi-sport athlete, playing varsity basketball on a Grossmont team that won the San Diego Section Division 4 championship last season.

A corner infielder, Talataina hit .461 with four homers, 10 doubles for Cathedral Catholic last season in softball. She struck out just four times in 126 plate appearances.

She chose Arizona after visiting UCLA, Arizona State and Mississippi State.

Farace would love to play flag football in college. The NAIA offers flag as a sport, with the NCAA set to come onboard in 2025.

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games will include men's and women's flag football.

"No question, the sport is growing," Lawrence said. "And girls like Marissa and Sina are helping the push."