Leilani Armenta is the first woman football player at Jackson State. She's not done yet

As the Jackson State and Bethune-Cookman football teams lined up to play their Southwestern Athletic Conference game Saturday, almost no one noticed the diminutive player wearing the red No. 35 jersey lining up with 10 much larger Tigers for the opening kickoff.

Moments later, the 5-foot-7 Leilani Armenta, not even listed on the Jackson State game program, became the most noticed player on the field. She kicked off -- sending the ball a modest 25 yards to to the visiting Wildcats' 40-yard line -- and launched herself into SWAC history. Armenta, a freshman from Ventura, California, who joined the team only four days before, became the first woman to play in a SWAC football game, eventually won 22-16 by the Tigers. She also is the first woman to play football for Jackson State, which first fielded a team in 1911.

Saturday was significant day for women in NCAA football. A few hours before Armenta kicked off for the Tigers, India Pulphus kicked for Shaw (N.C.) University and became the first woman to play in an HBCU football game.

Also Saturday, Haley Van Voorhis of NCAA Division III Shenandoah (Va.) University became the first woman to play in an NCAA game at a position other than kicker. Voorhis played as a safety on the Hornets' defense, and in the first quarter rushed Juniata quarterback Calvin German to force an errant throw.

Armenta steps up to help Jackson State football

Armenta, a freshman member of the Jackson State women's soccer team, got her historic opportunity because of a pair of unfortunate events. A week earlier in the football team's game against Texas State, place-kicker Gerardo Baeza was injured. In practice leading up to the Bethune-Cookman game, Matt Noll, the punter and backup place-kicker, also was injured. Jackson State did not disclose the nature of either injury.

Armenta, who was not made available by the university for interviews, is recovering from an injury as well. She played with a brace on her right knee Saturday after tearing a knee ligament while competing at St. Bonaventure High School, where she played girls soccer and kicked for the football team.

The opening kickoff was Armenta's only appearance Saturday. Afterward, Tigers coach T.C. Taylor had two of the team's running backs kick off, and Jackson State opted to attempt two-point conversions rather than point-after kicks after its three touchdowns.

"It's my job not to let her go out there and get hurt," Taylor said. "That's why I gave her the opening kickoff, just tried to do a good job of protecting her. She just got here on Tuesday, so I didn't want her to get hurt. It will take some time to get back in the swing of things."

The next step for Leilani Armenta

Saturday is not likely to be Armenta's only appearance. Taylor said he is not going to look outside for any other kickers, instead continuing to let Armani practice with the team to get her leg back in shape for placement kicks during this open week in the team's schedule. Jackson State does not play again until Oct. 7 at Alabama A&M.

"I'm not looking forward to bringing anybody else in," Taylor said. "It is late in the school year. She did a great job."

That is a sentiment shared by Brandy Armenta, Leilani's mother.

“It means so much to us as a family,” Brandy Armenta, said in a telephone interview. "To see her make history at Jackson State with a team and a coach who supported it. She loves football and to see her accomplish making history was an incredibly moving moment as parents.”

How it all began for Leilani Armenta, football kicker

Armenta's week began when Taylor had nowhere else on his roster to turn. He ended up asking women’s soccer coach Ted Flogaites if he had any solutions to the football team's quandary.  Flogaites suggested Armenta, whom he knew had place-kicked in high school.

And kicked well, St. Bonaventure coach Joe Goyeneche said. Armenta was a kicker for the Seraphs for four years and played junior varsity as a freshman. She set a single-game record for extra points by a female kicker with 10.

FIRST FEMALE KICKER IN JSU HISTORY Jackson State uses female kicker, makes school history in NCAA football game

"We did not give her anything," Goyeneche said in a phone interview. "She was the best that we had at that position. Armenta made some big kicks for the team and was a huge part of the team's success over the last two years.

“She was a warrior. She played competitive soccer her whole life. She knew what it took to be successful, and she bought into football when she was here. She wasn’t treated any differently than any of the other guys. She worked her behind off to get better, and she would go to kicking camps.”

Taylor said when he met Armenta, it was evident that she loves football. She even brought her own helmet and shoulder pads to practice.

“Her determination is second to none,” Goyeneche said. “When she wants something, she is going to fight and get it. She is a very, very dedicated individual. Wherever she goes in life, she is going to be successful. She is inspiring.”

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: How Leilani Armenta became Jackson State's first woman football player