Olivia Heartwell
Two things stand out with the South flag football team: The defense and quarterback Olivia Heartwell.
The Wolverines (12-3) are tied with defending Cook Inlet Conference champion Dimond for the league lead in shutouts with seven.
But when it comes to Heartwell, she’s in a league of her own. The senior signal caller is the most prolific passer in the CIC with 2,590 yards and 40 touchdowns.
Fueled by Heartwell’s rocket right arm, South has scored 35 points or more six times and averages 24.3 points per game entering tonight’s CIC Tournament semifinal game against rival Service.
South and Service split their two meetings in the regular season, with both games being close. Service won the first game 14-13 after Greta Helgeson connected with Zoe Witter for a 23-yard touchdown and two-point conversion inside the final 30 seconds. South won the second game 14-0, setting up a winner-take-all rubber match.
“I love my team’s chances,” Heartwell said. “Everybody thinks that South has been lucky, but just you wait and see. We are going to show everyone that they were wrong about South. We don’t need luck to win. We have grit, we have determination and most of all we play as a team.”
CIC Flag Football Tournament
First Round
Dimond 34, Eagle River 0
South 38, Chugiak 0
Service 16, Bartlett 0
West 7, East 0
Today’s Semifinals
3 Service (11-4) at 2 South (12-3) 5pm
4 West (11-4) at 1 Dimond (14-1) 6pm
Thursday’s Championship
TBD vs. TBD 6pm
Higher seed hosts
Heartwell never wanted to be a quarterback. Her first choice was wide receiver, but that changed as a freshman when she was promoted to varsity and was under center for the playoffs, filling in for injured starter Shelby Ottum.
Heartwell led South to wins over East, Dimond and finally West 21-12 after throwing three TD passes in the championship game to give the Wolverines their first flag football title.
“I like playing quarterback because everybody likes to underestimate my throwing ability and when I throw that football more than 40 yards everyone’s face just changes,” Heartwell said.
The 5-foot-9 playmaker is a three-sport star at South, also exceling in basketball and softball. Flag football, however, might be her best sport as she’s one of the CIC’s most explosive offensive stars.
She grew up throwing around the pigskin with her brothers, who both starred for the South football team. Jayden was an all-conference safety and Quincy was an all-conference receiver.
South’s Olivia Heartwell. Photo by Tim Keaveny
“My brothers helped me get to where I am in a lot of ways,” she said. “They would take me to the field when they would go do drills they would show up to my games and support me, and they always think they can throw farther then me but they can’t.”
Heartwell also plays on defense as a linebacker/safely hybrid. She has recorded 36 flag pulls and two interceptions.
Still, being a QB is her bread and butter. She has the ability to change the game on one play and likes to spread the ball around, making her difficult to slow down.
“I don’t have favorite targets. All my teammates are my favorite because they all do a special role to win us a game,” Heartwell said. “I really just pass it to who’s open. If my teammate is open 30 yards down the field, I’m letting that ball go. But if my teammate is 5 yards away and we need a first down, I’ll give it to them so they can make something happen.”