Penn Hills flag football picking up wins, ‘proving people wrong’
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Saturday, April 19, 2025 | 11:01 AM
Penn Hills’ Trinity Fielder passes during a flag football game April 13 at Woodland Hills.
Penn Hills’ Saniya Horsley makes a catch during a flag football game April 13 at Woodland Hills.
Penn Hills’ Aniyah Hickman makes a catch during a flag football game April 13 at Woodland Hills.
Penn Hills’ Aniyah Hickman tips a ball during a flag football game April 13 at Woodland Hills.
Ani’yah Hickman knows that being a three-year veteran of the Penn Hills girls flag football team will require taking on different roles at a moment’s notice.
Hickman was one of three players called on to play quarterback because of various injuries afflicting Penn Hills on April 13 at Woodland Hills High School.
Hickman, along with Trinity Fielder and Atheena Burnett, also stepped in to play the position and helped the Indians score a 13-6 win over McKeesport.
“I wouldn’t say I was too comfortable,” Hickman said.”I was forced to take on that role. We’re a coachable group. We work hard to understand everything.”
Penn Hills sophomore guard Saniyah Horsley said the Indians could adjust on the fly. Depending on who was being tasked with throwing the ball, Horsley said they were able to find ways to get open on shorter routes.
“We would try not to go too deep to help each other out,” Horsley said. “After catching passes, we did well at getting extra yardage.”
Penn Hills is 3-2 so far this season. The Indians are in fifth place in a 10-team division. Penn Hills nearly beat undefeated Latrobe last Sunday.
The East Division-leading Wildcats beat Penn Hills, 19-13, when Carley Berk threw a touchdown pass to Maggie Maiers on the last play of the game. Penn Hills had two possessions with the game tied late, but both ended in interceptions.
Penn Hills was hit with some bad luck against Latrobe. Hickman was able to make an athletic play to tip a Latrobe pass, but the ball deflected high in the air and into the arms of Berk for a touchdown.
Before the loss to the Wildcats, Penn Hills had won three straight over Burrell, Propel Braddock Hills and McKeesport. The Indians’ losses came to teams — Latrobe and Plum — above them in the standings.
Horsley said she has enjoyed how the team has bonded throughout the season.
“We stay after school to practice,” Horsley said. “We also hang out together and talk.”
Hickman first started playing flag football to prove that girls can play the game.
That idea still drives Hickman’s motivation.
“Playing flag football seems like a prove-them-wrong type of moment,” Hickman said. “I like proving people wrong.”
Tags: Penn Hills
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