Majestics women’s tackle football starts season with Kent scrimmage

The Seattle Majestics are ready for battle.

Now entering their second season in Kent, the women’s tackle football team is having its first event of the season: A team scrimmage Saturday.

Called the Red/Black Scrimmage, the event gets under way 7 p.m. under the lights at Kent-Meridian High School’s French Field.

“This is the first year we’re doing the whole intersquad scrimmage,” said team co-owner Camille Head, who also plays wide receiver and defensive back. “I think one of the most exciting things is we’re going to be checking out our new offense we’ve got running. (Fans will see) the new players getting their first hits, catching their first ball, getting their first touchdowns.”

This year’s squad combines seasoned veterans with some new, younger talent, and Head said the young blood should bring good things to the program.

“If anything having the newer, younger, more athletic players come out is beneficial to us, because they’re coming from backgrounds that kind of parallel the intensity of football,” she said.

At 40 players, the team has a full roster.

And in addition to the new talent on the field, the Majestics have a new coach.

Replacing Mike Talley is Josh Bellinger, a rising talent who played several years of semi-pro ball.

Head explained that Talley opted out of the program in order to spend more time with his son, who is in his last year of high school.

Head said there’s an exciting announcement coming later this month: one Majestics player has made first-ever U.S. women’s tackle football team. She’s waiting for USA Football, which has organized the team, to make the announcement. That team will play in the world championships in Sweden, June 28 through July 4.

“Hopefully that will jazz up a lot of people,” Head said, of fans wanting to see the player perform in Kent.

Stay tuned with the Kent Reporter for a full feature about that player, when the announcement comes. The word is she’s from the South Sound area.

The Majestics’ season opener is April 3 versus the California Quake in Downey, Calif.

Their home opener is April 10 against the Sacramento Sirens. Kick off is 6 p.m.

The Majestics went undefeated during last year’s regular season, but were bumped off in the first game of the playoffs, after a close match with Chicago. They finished their season seventh, out of 50 teams in the Independent Women’s Football League.

Admission to Saturday’s scrimmage is by donation at the gate.

Learn more about the Majestics

To get more information about admission, team information (including this season’s roster), as well as merchandise and ticket specials, visit the Majestics’ Web site at www.theseattlemajestics.com.