SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Freshman Monet Zauner scored on two returned interceptions, sophomore Natalia Zitelli totaled three touchdowns with two conversions for 20 points, while four different players threw for TD passes as St. Francis set a school scoring record in a 53-6 win over Sacramento Charter in non-league flag football action Thursday night.

The Troubadours pick up their first win of the year to improve to 1-4. Oddly, the game fell on the anniversary of the program's first overall victory – 21-14 against Granite Bay on September 5, 2023. The 53 points also surpasses the team's old scoring benchmark, set in the 45-7 win over Folsom last October.

In all, freshman Lola Fox three for two touchdowns, while freshman Taylor Mitchell, sophomore Haydyn Haecker and sophomore Abi Hall each fired one. Hall's drive was perhaps the most unusual: the towering safety made her debut on offense, then found Lauren Herbelin, Tayli Paeu-Lindgren and Zitelli on passing plays, with Zitelli covering almost exactly half the field to paydirt.  

Then running back Jade Abalateo, who completed two passes from the backfield earlier in the game, enjoyed an opportunity to line up behind center. After Zauner's second pick six late in the second half, Abalateo found linebacker Zia Smith for the contest's final one-point conversion.

St. Francis had interceptions on each of its first three defensive series, allowing the offense a short field and a quick scoring start to the game. Smith picked off Jordan Pointer's pass on the very first play of the contest, returning it to the six-yard line and setting ZItelli's end run touchdown at the 22:20 mark. Then on the Dragons' next ball, a dropped pass and a Colleen Medina hurry resulted in a third-and 20. Zauner snared the next pass and ran it deep into Sac territory. This set up Fox's 4-yard connection with Zitelli, extending the lead to 13-0.

On the very next play, Sac High sent DaMeiyah Pace to quarterback. This time, Zauner picked off the first pass near the 30-yard line and returned it virtually untouched for another Troubie score. Fox hit Zitelli for the one-pointer, bumping the margin to 20-0. Credit senior Alina Uriarte for her pressure on Pace as part of that turnover, too.

The Dragons got on the board just after the two-minute warning of the first half. Hall appeared to have posted her team's fourth interception, but the takeaway was negated by a penalty. Instead, Sac Charter worked its way to the red zone, with freshman Ja'Niah Dossman hauling in both a touchdown and the one-point conversion.

Still, SF had an answer for its final possession before halftime. Paeu-Lindgren caught a pass in the flat and advanced to midfield, then Fox fired a long pass to Annie Swanson, who collected the ball in traffic at the Dragon 10-yard line. Two plays later, Fox delivered to slot receiver Nevaeh Gavino, who grabbed her first career TD with no time remaining. Paeu-Lindgren's catch in the corner of the end zone made it 27-6 going to the break.

In the second half, Troubie head coach Quincy Cooper rotated in different people to quarterback. Mitchell ran the first series after the break, eventually finding Zauner for a 50-yard score less than 90 seconds into the half. Freshman Piper Bates appeared to tack on a one-point conversion on a pitch to the right, but the play was ruled as an illegal run.  
The Troubies took over on downs after a red zone stop that included another Medina hurry, plus break-ups from seniors Gabriella Kamin and Abby Clark. This resulted in the Haecker-led scoring drive, culminating in some 55 yards after catch by Paeu-Lindgren midway through the half.

With less than eight minutes left in the contest, Cooper let Hall take over at quarterback for a drive. The resulting 39-yard TD to Zitelli became the first from a Troubie non-quarterback since Caitlin Hafenstein hit Emma Karamanoukian in a role reversal during last year's October 17 win against Folsom.

Zauner's 25-yard pick six at the three-minute mark broke the half-century scoring milestone, with Abalateo's conversion resulting in the Troubies' 53rd and final point of the game.

Thursday's varsity-only game with the Dragons served as a tune-up for Saturday's matchup at Christian Brothers, last year's inaugural Division II champion. Dubbed either "Holy Flags" or "Holy Bowl" depending on source, the doubleheader consists of a 5:30 JV opener and a 7 p.m. varsity nightcap.