East Orange Teen Inspires City With Her Gridiron Glory

EAST ORANGE, NJ — With single carry of the pigskin across the goal line, Jessica Felix scored a huge touchdown not just for East Orange, but for aspiring football players across New Jersey.

Felix is the only female player on the East Orange Campus High School varsity football squad, and just the second in the team’s history. So far this year, the Jaguars are off to a 12-0 start, an undefeated streak they took into last week’s Thanksgiving game in Newark. And Felix – who scored her first touchdown and was named the game’s MVP – is a part of that success.

Felix, a senior, who dons number 29, was also recently chosen to participate in a new girls flag football league in New Jersey sponsored by the New York Jets and Nike.

• See related article: NJ Girls Flag Football League Includes 3 Schools In Essex County

“Jessica is breaking barriers for women in football and making HERstory in the City of East Orange,” officials said, congratulating the teen for her gridiron milestone.

Fans can catch Felix and the entire undefeated Jaguar team at the 2021 NJSIAA, Group 5 Regional Football Championship game on Sunday, Dec. 5 at 1 p.m. at SHI Stadium on the Rutgers University campus.

• See related article: Inspiring Student-Athlete In Essex County Hits The Ground Running

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