ROSEVILLE, Calif. – Freshman Madison Trafican hauled in eight receptions, a touchdown and a one-point conversion while Haydyn Haecker caught two touchdowns of her own, but St. Francis fell to Woodcreek, 26-19, thanks to a 60-yard scamper by Timberwolf quarterback Madison Landon with less than a minute remaining in the junior varsity half of a girls' flag football doubleheader Wednesday evening.
The Troubadour jayvees open their season at 0-1. The younger SF squad was idle during the first three flag football matchups, since the home field can only accommodate a single varsity game while Christian Brothers did not field a JV team this season.
Freshman Gianna Barnes threw all three touchdown passes for the game. Haecker pulled in the first TD toss from Barnes at the 9:40 mark of the first half, then Trafican scored the ensuing conversion. After Whitney answered with its own touchdown on the next series, Barnes and Trafican struck again. Barnes' keeper set up a first-and-goal, then a short pass to Trafican moved the marker to roughly the 7-yard line. Barnes connected with Trafican for the go-ahead with just 20 seconds left in the half.
Abbey Pavelchik picked off Woodcreek with her interception in the final seconds of the first half, getting some help on a hurry from sophomore Evelyn McNearney.
Landon, who replaced starter Orion Deal behind center after the break, hit wideout Samantha Peck for two touchdowns to give the T-Wolves a 19-13 lead. Pavelchik posted her second pick on the conversion try, keeping SF within a six-point margin. Barnes then quickly equalized, hitting Trafican for a fourth-down conversion, then following with the TD strike to Haecker.
On the first play on its own 20-yard line, Landon was chased to her right by a heavy rush from Rebecca Mochel. Landon lost her flag during her scramble. By rule, an offensive player who loses her flag before the whistle needs only to be touched by a defender to be downed. Instead, Landon scampered 60 yards up the right sideline to the end zone for the go-ahead at the 0:41 mark. Deal returned for Woodcreek to hit Jazzyln Price for the one-pointer, meaning the Troubies would have to score a touchdown and convert to tie or win during the final ticks.
Unfortunately, St. Francis was unable to advance out of its own territory, with a short draw by Barnes accounting for the only gain. The Wolves took over on downs and took a knee to run out the final 13 seconds.
Oddly, Pavelchik had made her season debut just one day earlier as a call-up to varsity against Whitney – and posted a pick on a conversion in that game.
Wednesday's visit to Woodcreek is one of six regular-season games for the Troubie JV, all on the road. SF will also play at Rocklin (Sept. 21), Whitney (Sept. 26), Davis (Sept. 28), Del Oro (Oct. 5) and Granite Bay (Oct. 10) as part of the inaugural season. The younger Troubies also compete in a one-day tournament at Rocklin on September 13.
Meanwhile, the St. Francis varsity heads to Folsom on Thursday for continued Sierra Foothill League action. Game time is 7 p.m.
