First Woman to Play in a College Football Game

On October 18, 1997, Liz Heaston made history when she took the field as the placekicker for the Willamette University Bearcats in a game against Linfield College. Heaston, a standout goalkeeper for the Willamette women's soccer team, had been recruited by the football team's coaches after they watched her strong and accurate kicking ability on the soccer field. In a lopsided 27-0 Willamette victory, Heaston successfully converted two extra-point kicks, becoming the first woman ever to play in and score in a college football game at any level.

This achievement was historically significant because college football, at every level, had been an exclusively male domain since its inception in the 19th century. Heaston's participation shattered a long-standing gender barrier in one of America's most traditionally masculine sports. Her performance was not a token appearance; she executed her kicks successfully under real game conditions, proving her competence at the collegiate level.

The event drew national media attention, including coverage from outlets covering NAIA football, and it has since been recognized retrospectively by organizations such as the Heisman Trust as a landmark moment in the history of women in football. Heaston's milestone paved the way for a subsequent generation of women who have gone on to kick, and even play other positions, in high school and college football programs across the United States. Her achievement remains a touchstone reference whenever the topic of gender barriers in football is discussed.