Southwestern Athletic Conference to have first female official work game in Houston

SWAC to have first female official work game

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Southwestern Athletic Conference’s first female official in football will work a game this weekend.

The league said Wednesday that Yvonda Lewis will help officiate the Texas College-Texas Southern game Saturday in Houston.

The Houston native and Prairie View A&M graduate became an official in 2004 and has been working high school games.

Lewis won’t be the only female SWAC official this season. Sebrina Brunson, who works games in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, will officiate a SWAC game in October.

The two are among five female football officials in Division I, including three in the MEAC and one in Conference USA, according to the SWAC.

(This version CORRECTS the referee’s first name to ‘Yvonda,’ not ‘Yvonde.’)