North Kitsap High School’s girls flag football team has only 12 girls on the roster facing 2A and 3A schools, but despite being a new program the Vikings have created success beyond expectations.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” coach Chris Richardson said. “We have some girls who have never played sports, let alone football. They have been practicing hard since the end of November and I’m proud of them.”

NK’s first season has been a great experience for coaches and players.

“All of us have never played it before, and it’s just so much fun because it’s physical,” quarterback and safety Sophia Loverich said. “All the teams have been super nice, and it has been very competitive. This sport is going to grow.”

The team started practicing at the end of November.

“They are really fun to coach,” Richardson said of the team. “It has been a growing experience for them learning football and cool to have an experience where four teams come out and compete here at North Kitsap.”

NK hosted its first league games against defending state champion Lincoln and former playoff team Franklin Pierce.

“When Lincoln rolled up in three buses, it was something where we thought we would give our best effort and see what happens. They played dynamite defense and didn’t give up any points,” he said as NK upset Lincoln 13-7; the only Abes score came on an interception for a TD.

It was a quiet first half until Loverich scrambled out of Lincoln’s blitz, looked downfield and found Beckham Ochs wide-open for a touchdown. The Viking defense held strong, forcing three turnover on downs inside the 10-yard line.

“It’s amazing,” Loverich said. “We came out thinking Lincoln was going to whoop us so to come out and do that was amazing.”

Ochs caught another touchdown pass but the failed extra point made it 13-0. With a minute remaining, NK threw a pick-six to allow Lincoln a shot for a comeback. The Abes attempted an onside try from their own 5-yard line but failed.

Running back Day Lissey ran out the clock to win their first game. Immediately after, the Vikings faced the Cardinals.

“Franklin Pierce made a couple of great plays but we had a couple of girls who made big plays down the stretch,” Richardson said as NK won again 18-13.

Loverich found Ochs on a short crossing pattern, and Ochs took it to the end zone for a 6-0 lead. Franklin Pierce and Viking Natalie Holmberg traded touchdowns to end the half, giving NK a 12-7 lead.

Franklin Pierce took a 13-12 lead to start the second half. But Ochs and Holmberg each caught two passes to lead the Vikings to an 18-13 advantage.

The Cardinals had one more chance to pull out a victory with 45 seconds left in the game. But Holmberg intercepted a pass across the middle, and Lissey ran out the clock for the win.

“We are continuing to grow and build their confidence,” Richardson said. “When we got off the bus the first week, most of them were super nervous, and I could tell they were tight. Then, we won and realized we could play football.”

NK boasts a 3-1 league record and heads to South Kitsap for a nonconference matchup next.

Viking running back Day Lissey carries the ball to run out the clock on the final play of the game.