Girl Starts Off As Cheerleader, Ends Up On Football Team

FAIR OAKS (CBS13) – She's gutsy, athletic and full of fire. A 12-year-old girl is turning heads as the only girl on a local football team.

Defense end Jessica Benevides has got her game face on.

"[I] really like it," Jessica said. "Watched my brother play for four years."

She's the only girl on the field – and she's ready for her last game against the Rancho Cordova Lancers.

For the past two years, Jessica's been playing Pop Warner football for the Del Campo Jr. Cougars.

She started off as a cheerleader, only to find out that wasn't for her.

"Smile all the time, skirts too high, just didn't like it," Jessica said.

Her 11-year-old brother Robert is the quarterback on her team. And the man who calls the shots happens to be her father.

"At first it was a no," Angel Benavides said. "[But] who am I to tell my daughter she can't do something?"

Jessica says her favorite part is tackling.

"It's scary, but we like watching her," Angel said.

Coach Benevides' biggest concern if she continues to play in high school due to the size of the players.

"In high school [they] get up to 200 pounds. She's barely a buck," Angel said.

But as for Jessica, she has some advice for other girls.

"Go ahead and do it. [It's] actually fun if you're a tough girl."