Ruling the Field
SUGARCREEK TWP — Addison Burrows' love for football was born on Sunday afternoons.
She'd hunker down on the couch with her father, Wayne, and watch the game intently on television.
She'd study the players. Their assignments. How fast they were and how hard they hit. She longed to be like them. To throw a spiral like them. To tackle like them.
So, Burrows did.
Now in her fifth year in the East Brady Youth Football league, the Chicora native is a starting quarterback and defensive end for the Senior team.
She's not alone. Two other female players start for the 11-year-old team — Addison Brink and Haley Laird.
“We don't have to treat them any differently than the guys,” said coach Dustin Robinson. “They actually probably take more in than the guys because they want to learn.”
Burrows, who has been playing quarterback for several years, spends a lot of time on the game.
When she's not practicing with her father, she's doing work on her own to improve her passing skills.
“I kind of struggled throwing the ball last year, so we didn't throw it a lot,” Burrows said. “This year I worked on it and we've started throwing the ball more than we have.
“My dad and I go out in the backyard and play catch,” she added. “The days he wasn't home, I'd drag a net out or I'd just throw a football at a tree or something, just trying to get that aim down and a tight spiral every time.”
The hard work has paid off for Burrows, who threw a 54-yard touchdown pass in East Brady's last game.
The Senior team is 2-1 and has a bye this week.
Burrows is the reason why Brink decided to give football a try.
The two are close friends and Burrows convinced Brink to come out for the team. Now Brink is the starting center in her first season playing football, forming the rare all-female quarterback/center exchange.
“It's pretty unique and pretty neat,” Robinson said. “There's very few girls in the game.”
Brink, a Bradys Bend native, said her early impact in the sport has been a bit surprising.
“I didn't think I'd be the starting center,” Brink said. “I didn't really know much about football.”
But Brink has learned quickly.
“She's doing everything on the fly,” Robinson said. “But she's done a great job. On defense, we tell her this is when you get a chance to tackle people and she goes out and tackles people. On offense, we tell her to block this guy and she does it.”Laird, a native of West Kittanning, has been playing for four years and has made huge strides, Robinson said.Timid at first, Laird is now a wrecking ball on both sides of the line.“Hailey is one of the most improved players I've seen from year one to where she is now,” Robinson said. “She's one of our best blockers. On defense, she has no fear. She'll bust through the line and hit someone.”In fact, Laird wasted little time explaining what she enjoys most about football.“It's fun pushing around boys,” she said, smiling.In fact, all three routinely take their male counterparts by surprise.“I think they catch a lot of the boys on the other team off guard,” Robinson said. “They don't realize they're in for it. The girls give them everything they can handle.”Brink also plays basketball a volleyball. Burrows plays softball and basketball.Burrows said the end of her football playing career is unfortunately near.“I probably have one more year left after this year and then I'll probably choose another sport,” Burrows said. “Honestly, it's going to be really hard to let go of the sport because the game is just amazing. I love the game of football.”For now, though, the three will focus on having fun and dominating in a sport usually reserved for males.“It's nice having other girls on the field,” Laird said.“They'll make a big hit and they'll get up and flex and yell,” Robinson said, smiling. “All three of them love it.”
