Although female football players are not as rare today as they used to be, the sport still attracts a much larger number of males than females.

Carrie Dickinson, however, is one of the exceptions. Scoring 23 points already this year for the Springville PeeWee Bills, including three touchdowns, Dickinson is a force to be reckoned with.

The fifth grader attends Springville Elementary School and maintained a 99 grade average last year while playing as a second-string center on the school football team. She hopes to do the same this year while she plays as starting running back.

The Dickinson family moved to the area from the New York City two years ago. Carrie, who played soccer for two years before her family moved to here, was at a loss when informed that her new school’s soccer season didn’t start until spring. She says, “I didn’t want to be a cheerleader and I saw how much my dad and brother loved football, so I thought I wanted to try it.” Having never played football before she joined the team, Carrie says that her father, brother Billy and coach Mark Glass taught her well.

Now in her second year of playing football, Carrie says “I have a lot more courage now. I used to be scared my first year, but this year I have a lot more confidence. I’m not afraid to tackle or play with the guys.”

While Carrie is the only girl on her team, her mother Amy says that many other teams in the league have at least one female player. “We were told that [Carrie’s touchdown] was the first ever by a Springville girl,” says Dickinson. “We hope Pop Warner would have been proud.”

In addition to playing football, Carrie also plays the trumpet, is involved in Girl Scouts, is an Irish Dancer, plays soccer and softball and has learned to ski.