There’s football history being made in Jacksonville, and it has nothing to do with that big cat-themed professional franchise that plays its games on the north bank of the St. Johns downtown. Keilani Contreras, an 11-year-old who plays in the Arlington Youth Football Association, became the first girl to score a touchdown in the history of the league on Saturday.
After the game, she spoke with Action News Jax’s Ryan Nelson to give a powerful postgame interview.
#NEW: Meet the INCREDIBLE Keilani Contreras! Her coaches tell me the 11-year-old became the first girl to ever score a touchdown in #Jacksonville's Arlington Youth Football Association on Saturday.
She's highly motivated, and takes #GirlPower to heart. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/rH2S8Gz2oR
— Ryan Nelson (@RyanANJax) March 30, 2021
“Girl power, I feel like that’s a lot,” she said. “Because sometimes girls, they’re scared to go out for stuff. Sometimes boys might be like ‘Oh you can’t do this because you’re a girl’ … well, look at me! I’m a football player! Nobody can tell me nothing else.”
The clip reached the eyes of Jaguars coach Urban Meyer, who extended his congratulations to Contreras, as well as an invitation to the team’s training camp this summer.
What a story! Congratulations on your first touchdown, Keilani!đź’Ş You're right, you should always go for your dreams! If fans are allowed at training camp this summer I want you and your teammates to come out and be our special guests. #GirlPower #GirlDad @Jaguars https://t.co/K49V4RPUwQ
— Urban Meyer (@CoachUrbanMeyer) March 31, 2021
Hopefully Contreras’ touchdown on Saturday was the first of many as she continues to break down barriers in Jacksonville.