Centennial Chargers junior football team can count on female player Ava Ferrill
Ava Ferrill, No. 36 on the Centennial Chargers boys’ junior football team, in action during Wednesday’s game against the Trenton Tigers. The Chargers win 42-0. Photo by Victoria Caminha, QNet News
BELLEVILLE – When the Centennial Secondary School men’s junior football team won its semifinal game against the Trenton Tigers Wednesday, one of those celebrating was the team’s first female player, Ava Ferrill.
“She’s tiny, but don’t let her size fool you, ” Ferrill’s mom, Meghan Clark, told QNet News. “She’s ready to jump into the fray and she’s not scared to tackle or be tackled.”
Ferrill, 15, a Grade 10 student, is in her first season as a defensive back on the Centennial Chargers.
“Last year I would go to every football game (but) I had no idea I was allowed to try out,” she told QNet after Wednesday’s game.
“One of my teachers at the time was one of the coaches for football, and I was like, ‘Are girls allowed to try out? Because I see girls on other teams.’ So I just asked if I was allowed to. And he said, ‘Yeah, totally.’ And then (this) year I went out.
“I absolutely love football. I’m really glad that I did it.”
Her proud mother added: “She has put so much heart and dedication into being part of the CSS football team … She refused to miss a single practice, telling me that she had to be there, even if only to watch, so she would understand all of the plays and so on.”
As for the trouncing that the Chargers gave their opponents Wednesday, head coach Shaun Arbuckle called it “a really good team effort.”
“We have a very large team, about 50 players, and we were able to get everybody in there. Everybody had a contributing role … Whenever you can get out of a game with a win, no injuries, and everybody playing, that’s a positive.”
The win at Mary Anne Sills Park means the Chargers will play in the finals of the Bay of Quinte Championship on Saturday, Nov. 12.
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