Clunis encourages girls to play football

Sydney Clunis finished off her high school football career on a winning note when Riverside captured the Essex Ravens Bowl with a 35-27 win over Cardinal Carter. "It feels really nice to end my football career with a W because I've been playing since I was in grade 4 so it's a really big part of who I am."

Clunis has been a Detroit Lions fans for as long as she could walk. Her dad's friend was a youth football coach and encourged the Clunis family to consider bringing Sydney out to play. "My dad was kinda like you should do this. Get out of your shell and I loved it every since."

A safety and defensive back, Clunis has enjoyed suiting up for the varsity football team. "I don't really mind. My team is really inclusive. Everyone includes me. It's really nice. They're all really nice to me."

"She's been great all year," said quarterbacvk Nolan Bryans who threw two touchdown passes against the Cougars. "She's really physical. Tackles well. She's just like one of us. We really don't think of her as a girl."

The lone female on the team this year, Clunis, who also plays volleyball for the South County Bandits, did have a girl to confide in last fall. "It was just really nice having that bond with her so ya, it would be nice and if you're a girl you should play because it's super fun."

Bryans embraces the idea. "If they're going to contribute to the team like she does then for sure."