Nevada State University’s first-year flag football program didn’t just exceed expectations — it obliterated them, finishing its debut season undefeated at 13-0. The Scorpions outscored opponents by an average of 42 points per game, recording eight shutouts along the way. Their dominance became so pronounced that the final two games of the regular season were canceled by opposing teams rather than face the Scorpions.
“How our season has gone, teams don’t want to come out here to lose,” said coach Brandon Pappillion, who previously coached at Bishop Gorman. “It was very disappointing. One canceled, then the next day the other called to cancel.”
The Scorpions were not affiliated with a conference this season and thus ineligible for postseason play, though they have applied to join the NAIA next year. Still, the team’s undefeated mark was no fluke. Pappillion recruited heavily from Southern Nevada, which has become a national hotbed for flag football. All 15 players came from local high schools.
Former Liberty standout Kaylie Phillips, a freshman quarterback and defensive back, said the team’s success was no surprise. “Going undefeated was our goal from the beginning,” Pappillion said. Phillips added, “I knew we’d do really good, but to go undefeated with all the shutouts was the surprising part. But I never thought we’d lose, even in the close games.”
The Scorpions’ closest contests were a 21-12 win over Arizona State and a 28-26 victory against Arizona Christian. The rest were blowouts, including an 83-0 thrashing of USC last month. The program’s growing reputation earned Phillips and teammate Brooklin Hill spots on the 24-player US Women’s National Team roster. Training camp begins this month ahead of the IFAF World Championship this summer in Germany.
Hill, a former Desert Oasis standout who transferred from the University of St. Mary in Kansas, said the team’s culture drives its success. “With the coaches and the players here, we have a winning culture and we believe we have to be the best.” Pappillion attributed that culture to Nevada’s head start in flag football. “I think Nevada has the best talent across the country. We’ve been doing this longer than anybody else because we were one of the first states to start flag football. We have a little advantage.”
The Scorpions are already looking ahead. Pappillion expects another dominant squad next season when they will be eligible for postseason play. “The girls knew that this year was a chance to get their feet wet,” he said. “But they all want to play for a championship. That has always been their goal.”
