History was made under the Friday night lights as the Shadow Ridge Mustangs captured the Nevada Flag Football State Championship, defeating powerhouse Bishop Gorman in an emotional and hard‑fought matchup.
The win marks a defining moment for the program and for a team that has been grinding since the summer to make it happen.
Junior quarterback Chloe Covington said the championship means everything to the team’s yearlong effort.
“Winning a state championship makes me feel like all of our time and work went to use throughout the year. We weren’t here to just win games, we were here to win a title,” Covington said.
The atmosphere reached another level in the game’s closing seconds.
Covington described the moment she sealed the victory by kneeling after the final snap.
“The last 10 seconds of the game had every girl in tears, being the quarterback and being able to snap the ball and go on my knee is honestly the best feeling ever,” Covington expressed.
Momentum built early in the contest, as the Mustangs’ first touchdown changed the tempo and energy on the field.
“That first touchdown was the turning point, whoever scored first was going to win that game,” Covington stated.
Although the moment looked smooth on the field, Covington said staying calm was all about trust.
“Every play that I went back into our huddle, it’s just a safe area, anytime someone messes up or is stressed, we just breathe and trust each other.” Covington explained.
Coach Andrew Dubois credited the victory to total teamwork and preparation.
“It was a team effort all the way down, it started with the coaching staff working many hours to prepare and make sure we were all on the same page,” Dubois stated.
Defensive consistency proved crucial against Bishop Gorman’s explosive offense.
Dubois expresses, “The main focus for defense was no big plays, Bishop Gorman has some awesome athletes… but if we could limit their big plays, we would win.”
As the final whistle blew, both players and coaches reflected on how far they’d come.
“It sounds cliché, but they grew into more than just a team, they grew into a family,” Dubois said. “They began playing for more than just the win, but rather for the love of each other.”
From the summer workouts to that final knee, Shadow Ridge’s unity defined the season and now, the Mustangs stand proudly as state champions.
