11/12/2025
Underdogs Rising in South County Elementary Flag Football
Thursday, October 30th, marked the first win of the season for Cinnabar Elementary’s flag football team, which ended at 18-6 against Corona Creek Elementary. After a loss and two tied games against teams that have been consistently bigger in both headcount and physical size, the Cinnabar Eagles’ team of 16 are soaring high and their coach couldn’t be more proud of their teamwork and dedication.
With so many rural schools in or near Petaluma which also serve as their own school district separate from Petaluma City Schools, 7 elementary schools have teams of 4th-6th graders playing 6 games this season in what they call “South County Flag Football.”
When asked about what led to Cinnabar’s win on 10/30, Coach Hanley said, “The team had some players in new positions who really stepped up and took ownership of them – such as a 4th grader who played his first game at Running Back and scored a touchdown, and a 5th grader who played his first game as a blocker.”
Another 5th grader is one of only two girls on the team and has been strong on defense. At the game with Corona Creek she had one catch, one interception, a stop on the QB’s run, and was part of the turnover at the end of the game.
“I think she is playing well overall and we enjoy watching the kids play as a team,” her mom told us after the game.
Some of the team’s success depended on players whose physical size has not defined their contribution to the team: a rusher and a blocker, both in 5th grade. The two 5th graders are not the tallest kids on the field but they have continually gone up against the biggest kids on the field. They have kept great attitudes and shown resilience, always getting back up and giving it their best. Also of note is a 4th grader who has stopped many runs at the line of scrimmage.
According to Coach Hanley, the rock of the team all season has been their quarterback, a 6th grader. “He continues to be a pillar of tenacity, calm and ex*****on at his efforts at QB and when stepping in to play defense.”
“I think collectively the team showed their best game yet in terms of teamwork, communication, and dedication to their assigned positions - which resulted in Cinnabar winning against a team that was bigger and more aggressive than any team we’ve played this season,” said the coach, who is the stepfather of one of the players.
Cinnabar also has a cheerleading squad at every flag football game, thanks to the generous student volunteers from Petaluma High School. Four PHS students have trained 20 Cinnabar students from 1st-6th grade who show up with red & white pom poms to enthusiastically perform the cheers they rehearsed. One of the football moms made red & white bows for the cheerleaders and soon they will have official “Cinnabar Cheer” shirts.
As a very small school with only 170 students in TK-8th grade, Cinnabar families are encouraged to see such an exciting win for their hidden gem of a school. With a 100%-free before- and after-school program that runs on paid staff and volunteers like Coach Hanley and the PHS student cheerleaders, as well as many other parents and community members who lead popular after school clubs for the kids (Cooking, Comic-making, and Martial Arts to name a few) – Cinnabar’s family-like atmosphere is something staff and parents all cherish and work hard to protect as the school grows. Established in 1858, Cinnabar School is as old as the town of Petaluma. The school’s motto is “Be Safe. Be Respectful. Be Responsible.” It’s a motto the superintendent/principal and staff integrate into the classrooms and help students to emulate in everything they do.
Cinnabar’s final game is against Two Rock. This season has flown by and is a short six weeks but the students and parents look forward to it every year and are excited to see how the players continue to grow as a team. Go Eagles!
