SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Freshman quarterback Lola Fox delivered touchdown passes to Tayli Paeu-Lindgren, Nevaeh Gavino and Lauren Herbelin, but St. Francis came up a possession short in falling by a 26-20 final to Granite Bay in Sierra Foothill League girls' flag football action Thursday night.
The Troubadours slip to 2-8 for the season and 1-3 in SFL play. The Grizzlies improve to 5-2 for the year and 3-1 in league games, pulling to within a half-game of undefeated Del Oro in the standings.
Paeu-Lindgren had St. Francis' first score of the game, finishing a drive that began with three runs and a six-yard rush by sophomore back Natalia Zitelli. Paeu-Lindgren appeared to have hauled in a touchdown on a first-and-goal from the GB 12-yard line, but that play was recalled due to a flag. Instead, Gavino snared a pass in traffic at the Grizzly 5, then her towering teammate used her reach to clip the end zone on a Fox pass underneath. Running back Jade Abalateo took over behind center and ran in the two-point conversion to boost SF to an 8-6 lead.
However, the Troubies had a total of five of their possessions halted by GB takeaways throughout the game, including one in the red zone less than five minutes into the contest. One of the interceptions provided the Grizzlies a short field on which they punched in the initial TD, then another – the second by Hallie Tapuosi – put GB just on the south side of midfield with 4:31 to go in the first. That eventually ended in a 3-yard shovel pass from Lilian McDaniel to Alyssa Poehlman for a 12-8 lead that lasted into halftime.
After Granite Bay extended its lead to 18-8 to start the second, St. Francis went three and out and punted on each of its first two series after the break. Fortunately, the Troubie defense also forced the Grizzlies to punt on back-to-back possessions to keep the offense within a two-score margin. Then Gavino and Herbelin each had two receptions on a smooth march downfield, culminating with Gavino's catch and 30-yard sprint to the end zone with 11:55 remaining. Paeu-Lindgren came up a yard short of the conversion, but the touchdown nevertheless put SF back into striking range.
But Granite Bay answered quickly, extending the margin back to 10 with a Cate Garman TD reception. Teaupa tacked on the two-point conversion to make it 26-14, albeit with more than seven minutes left of gametime for the Troubies to work.
Herbelin dominated the next drive, converting a fourth-and-short to get into Grizzly territory. Paeu-Lindgren worked her way to the red zone two plays later, then under pass underneath found Herbelin at the GB 4. Fox repeated with another short toss to Herbelin, this time in the center of the end zone with 3:50 remaining. Paeu-Lindgren completed the conversion, once again using her length to reach into the end zone.
Reese Lieuwen, who highlighted the first half with an interception on GB's first drive, pulled two flags in stalling the Grizzly offense at their 34, forcing another punt and giving St. Francis one last shot. The Troubies did not manage to get past their own 30, and a Grizzly pick with 0:40 on the game clock effectively sealed the game.
Granite Bay evened the series streak at 2-2, having lost its first two meetings with St. Francis in their respective inaugural seasons.
The Troubies' jayvees lost by a 13-6 final, with GB's pass defense looming large in the form of four interceptions and a sack. Fittingly, St. Francis enjoyed its only score on the heels of its own pass defense: a Kaitlen Takeuchi quarterback hurry resulted in Chloe Aldrete's interception with about six minutes left in the second half. A penalty against the Grizzlies added to the play moved the yard marker to the GB30 to start the ensuing drive.
Quarterback Jocelyn Villaflor kept the ball for a seven-yard keeper, then Mariko Palmieri dragged in a pass for a first down and a first-and-goal on the Grizzly 5. Palmieri followed with a touchdown pass at the 4:27 mark to put the Troubies on the board. St. Francis then forced its guests to punt on its first three-and-out stop since the opening drive. But the Troubies also failed to get past midfield, with Ava Chervenak nearly intercepting a pass in the process.
Granite Bay had built its initial 13-0 lead on touchdown receptions by Leann McElroy and Sophia Fastidio. The second such score came with a big break as GB's Adele Craighead and SF's Elizabeth McNearney collided in midair going for a pass on a fourth-down conversion. Instead of a PBU for McNearney, it resulted in a first-and-short just outside the red zone. Fastidio punched in the score and Chloe Smith had the conversion.
The Troubies complete a three-game homestand on Tuesday against league-leading Del Oro. Game times are 4 and 5 p.m. on the SF grass fields.
