Erin DiMeglio: Teen Becomes First Female Quarterback to Play in Florida
With a snap and hand off, the "gridiron ceiling" was shattered.
Erin DiMeglio has now become the first female in Florida high school football history to play as quarterback.
"I have always wanted to play football ever since I was a little kid. Parents said, 'it was too rough for you,'" DiMeglio said.
The 17-year-old South Plantation High School senior was drafted to play by Doug Gatewood, who coached her in flag football and saw her potential.
"He asked me to come out and throw the ball…and I really liked it so I stuck with it," DiMeglio said.
Under the Friday night lights and in front of a packed crowd, DiMeglio's team was down by 4 points at half time.
As she marched onto the field with a 1:40 left in the fourth quarter on Friday, the crowd cheered her on as she made history.
"My heart starts racing so excited for her and for all this attention for her today. She has these great abilities and I knew she could do this. I just wanted her to be able to prove it," said Erin DiMeglio's mother, Kathleen Dimeglio.
The team kicker, Zac Leatherman said she has been more than welcomed onto the team.
"This is the same as having a guy on the team but she's a hard worker I got to say that," Leatherman said.
But DiMeglio is focused on football, not fame.
"I have nothing to say I am just out here to prove myself, I am just going to prove by doing on the field," she said.
The newly minted quarterback helped to close out the team's 31-14 victory.