Coming off the holiday break, the Virgin Valley High flag football team finds itself locked in a three-way tie for first place in the Southern 3A League standings.

In all probability, the tie will be broken within a week’s time.

Head coach Joey Bowler’s Lady Bulldogs are currently 5-0 in league play along with Boulder City and Del Sol Academy. Virgin Valley (9-1 overall) jumps back into action on Wednesday , Jan. 9, when they travel to Overton to face rival Moapa Valley (2-3 league, 4-6 overall) at 4:30 p.m. inside Jeff Keel Stadium.

VVHS will then host Boulder City Friday, Jan. 11, at 4:30 p.m. inside Evan Wilson Stadium and play Del Sol Academy Monday, Jan. 14 in Las Vegas at 4:30 p.m.

Following those three contests, the standings should have a different look.

The Lady Bulldogs, who have reached the 3A state championship game the past two seasons, graduated several key players from those squads. VVHS hasn’t missed a beat this year, however, as younger players have stepped in and played vital roles in the team’s early success.

Virgin Valley has a three-pronged rushing attack led by juniors Nikita Eskelsen and Shaylee Feltner along with sophomore Rainee Brito. The trio has combined to rush for 2,070 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Eskelsen has 844 yards on 110 carries and 10 touchdowns; Feltner has 120 carries for 731 yards and nine TDs while Brito has 53 carries for 495 yards and five scores.

Junior quarterback Ally Wright has completed 73-of-156 passes for 830 yards and eight touchdowns. Her leading targets are juniors Taylor Marshall (26 catches for 272 yards and four TD) and Autumn Boatright (22 catches, 218 yards and two scores).

On defense, junior Nataly Serna leads the team with 39 tackles while senior Macee Bundy has 37 and senior Julia Ramirez 34. Sophomore Alley Shaner is second in the league with eight sacks while junior Sariah Sims has four.