{"id":20602,"date":"2025-09-29T14:50:41","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T18:50:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/2025\/09\/29\/local-girl-breaks-gridiron-narratives\/"},"modified":"2025-09-29T14:50:42","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T18:50:42","slug":"local-girl-breaks-gridiron-narratives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/2025\/09\/29\/local-girl-breaks-gridiron-narratives\/","title":{"rendered":"Local girl breaks gridiron narratives"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to a Trailblazer<\/h2>\n

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) – No high schools in America offer girls high school tackle football teams, but that\u2019s not stopping one local girl from playing the sport she loves on her high school boys team.<\/p>\n

Breaking Stereotypes<\/h2>\n

Under the front of those lights, there\u2019s one number you don\u2019t expect to see crashing through the offensive line, but Sariyah Lewis didn\u2019t show up to be expected, she showed up to be excellent. \u201cI play football because I love this sport. I\u2019ve loved this sport since I was a kid. You know, and people told me I couldn\u2019t play it, so I wanted to do it anyway,\u201d said Lewis.<\/p>\n

Earning Respect<\/h2>\n

At first, unsure if she\u2019d even belong in the huddle, it didn\u2019t take long for Sariyah to earn more than just a spot. \u201cIt took some time to convince myself because at first I came in, I was like, let me just try JV, but things took their course and here I am.\u201d said Lewis. Now a starting varsity defensive tackle, number 12 is not here to play games. \u201cYeah, because every time someone asks me, they\u2019ll be like, are you the kicker? I\u2019ll be like, no, I play D-line, and the thing is, I like contact,\u201d said Lewis. \u201cI don\u2019t want to just sit there and kick the ball, I want to get to the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Coach’s Perspective<\/h2>\n

Sariyah\u2019s head coach, Richard Dunbar, a father of four daughters himself, knows exactly what she\u2019s up against. \u201cShe\u2019s a starting defensive end, so to ask her to go out there and perform every day, it\u2019s tough, but she handles it,\u201d said Dunbar. \u201cI want them to see me as either an equal or somebody they can depend on as a teammate,\u201d said Lewis.<\/p>\n

Teammate Camaraderie<\/h2>\n

And they do, because Sariyah didn\u2019t ask for special treatment, she earned respect the hard way. \u201cShe competes very well, you feel me? It\u2019s fun, because she\u2019s a teammate, so back and forth, it\u2019s fun, she holds her water,\u201d said Latevien Tharpe, a teammate of hers. \u201cFor a female, you wouldn\u2019t expect that, but she plays like a boy, she\u2019s definitely aggressive on the O-line,\u201d added Lagarius Tyler Jr. another teammate of Lewis. \u201cShe\u2019ll get past them, chop block, swim move, everything to try and get to the quarterback or the running back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Future Aspirations<\/h2>\n

Four years, full contact, and full of heart, Sariyah is a certified baller who also takes pride in the opposition who always seem to doubt her skills. \u201cOut here on the field, they\u2019d be like, oh, she actually can hit, like, what did you expect? What do you think I\u2019m out here for? I\u2019m not on this team just because I\u2019m doing what I need to do,\u201d said Lewis. This season may be her last snap, but Sariyah\u2019s story is just getting started. \u201cI\u2019m trying to go into school for law and business. I want to become a sports attorney, I still want to be in, I want to be where the action is,\u201d said Lewis. \u201cI understand, like, I\u2019m a girl, the next level is going to be hard, but I still want to be a part of it, I still want to help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

Sariyah Lewis is a beacon of determination and passion, breaking through barriers in a sport traditionally dominated by males. Her story is an inspiration, showing that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible. As she moves forward with her aspirations in law and business, her experience on the gridiron will undoubtedly serve as a foundation for her future successes.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n