Jackson State Kicker Becomes First Woman to Score in Division I HBCU Football Game

Leilani Armenta made college football history against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

In the course of dispatching Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday afternoon, Jackson State made college football history.

With 5:25 left in the second quarter, Tigers kicker Leilani Armenta booted an extra point to put Jackson State up 23–0, making her the first woman to score in an HBCU football game at the Division I level. She wound up hitting two more PATs as the Tigers cruised to a 40–14 win.

Armenta, a freshman, plays as a defender for Jackson State's women's soccer team. She attended high school at St. Bonaventure in Ventura, Calif., where she kicked 98 extra points and five field goals during her career.

Just for the record ... Leilani Armenta’s second extra point of the game for @gojsutigersfb. pic.twitter.com/y63sygLqYd

— I.C. Murrell (@ICMurrellPB) October 28, 2023

Her initial taste of game action came back on Sept. 23, when injuries to the Tigers' kickers forced her to handle the opening kickoff against Bethune-Cookman. Jackson State went on to defeat the Wildcats 22–16.

As HBCU Sports points out, Armenta was the second woman to score for an HBCU at any level this season. Shaw kicker India Pulphus nailed an extra point in a 38–19 loss to Virginia State on Sept. 30, a game played between Division II programs.