Fifth grader Wil’Nayah McCall, a student at Lisha Kill Middle School, isn’t afraid of anything. Not even playing tackle football on a field full of boys. 

“I’m not scared of nobody on my team, but half the boys are scared of me,” she said with a shrug.

McCall decided to try out the sport this year and soon realized not many girls were on the flag football team, let alone the tackle team. She now wears jersey #24 on South Colonie’s 5th grade Tackle Football team and is coached by Eddie Wunsch.

“I went to the first practice, and it was fine. And as I started doing it more, it was funner,” said McCall. “You don’t see a lot of girls doing tackle. And it’s fun now that I’m doing it.” 

It’s especially fun to watch McCall play. In her first season, she’s already scored two touchdowns and made a number of key tackles on the field. No easy feat, in a sport dominated by boys. 

“Going against a boy, it might be a little scary with the first hit. But it’s like, just get up and do it again.” 

Her skill on the field is turning heads at school and earning her respect from both students and adults. 

“Wil’Nayah is an incredible example to our students,” said Lisha Kill Principal Jill Penn. “She’s showing her peers that when you believe in yourself and push beyond limits, you can achieve great things both on and off the field.”

McCall said her mindset is all about confidence.

“Just think of it as: I’m not going here to dominate these boys— just to do everything I can. Just have confidence, really.”