ROCKLIN, Calif. – Despite touchdowns from Tayli Paeu-Lindgren, Natalia Zitelli and Jade Abalateo, plus a noteworthy defensive series from senior rusher Gabriella Kamin, St. Francis could not spoil Rocklin's Homecoming game, falling in a 32-22 Sierra Foothill League flag football battle at Rocklin Stadium Thursday night.

The Troubadours drop their fifth straight game, falling to 2-10 for the year and 1-5 in league play despite their highest scoring output since the 34-12 win at Davis back on September 10.

Paeu-Lindgren scored the game's first touchdown after Annie Swanson's grab put SF in the Thunder red zone for a first-and-goal from the 8-yard-line, Freshman quarterback Lola Fox hit the tall receiver, who reached the ball through the plane of the end zone for the first score. But Rocklin junior Skyler Linehan answered with a seven-yard  touchdown run on the ensuing possession, then reeled in the extra point as quarterback Robyn Nguyen side-stepped a potential sack.

Then after Livy Maeyama intercepted the first pass on the next Troubie series, the Thunder extended their lead to 13-6 on a shovel pass to center Paige Knight.

That lead proved short-lived: Lauren Herbelin's eight-yard reception became an 18-yard gain due to a Rocklin penalty, then Zitelli picked up 14 combined yards on a run and a catch for another SF red-zone opportunity. Two players later, Zitelli finished the drive with a 6-yard touchdown reception. This gave way to an unusual scoring play for St. Francis. On a two-point conversion, Abalateo's pass to Zia Smith appeared to get broken up by the Rocklin secondary, but the tipped pass landed in the hands of freshman Piper Bates. This pushed SF back on top, 14-13.

Still, Linehan struck again for the Thunder. She opened the next possession with a 26-yard reception into SF territory, then only an Alexa Randall deflagging prevented another first down. After Nguyen overthrew her target in the end zone, Rocklin faced a 4th-and-2 on the Troubie 22. Once again, the answer was Linehan, who advanced a shovel pass to the 6, collected a screen pass for another two yards, then finished with a four-yard touchdown catch. Troubie senior Reese Lieuwen broke up the conversion attempt, but Rocklin regained a 19-14 going into halftime.

In the first series after the break, St. Francis' march toward the Rocklin end zone stalled at the 21, when a pass intended for Nevaeh Gavino found its way into the hands of Thunder junior Ava Erickson. This set the stage for a long scoring drive for Rocklin, culminating with senior Angelina Abdelmessih converting a 4th-and-goal from the SF25. The Thunder converted the extra point to extend its lead to 26-14.

Additionally, that score came despite an astounding overall series by Kamin. In the 12 total plays of the drive, the cornerback turned pass rusher hurried Nguyen into two incomplete tosses, recorded the sack that pushed Rocklin back to the SF25, batted down a 3rd-and-15 conversion attempt, then broke up a shovel pass that resulted in Rocklin having to face a 4th-and-25.

A third interception for Rocklin not only prevented SF from moving beyond midfield, but provided Rocklin a short field for Lindsay Salvatierra's TD reception of yet another shovel pass. Lieuwen nearly intercepted the conversion, but St. Francis now trailed by three possessions – 32-14- with time running out.

Undeterred, Fox marched the Troubies downfield, thanks to two Annie Swanson catches and a leaping snare by senior Zia Smith on a 4th-and-7 just beyond the midfield marker. Zitelli ran a pitch to the Rocklin 36, then Gavino's 22-yard catch advanced the Troubies to the 14. With a 1st-and-goal, Abalateo ran the ball straight up the gut for her sixth carry, her 50th rushing yard and a 14-yard touchdown. Abalateo then lined up behind center for the two-pointer, and hit Smith for the conversion, cutting the deficit to 32-22.

St. Francis held Rocklin on a three-and-out but only had time for one more possession. Abalateo's 10-yard run, Smith's 21-yard pickup for another fourth-down conversion and Swanson's grab inside the Rocklin 20 failed to result in further Troubie points, as Rocklin senior Madi Kirby intercepted a pass in front of her own goal line with mere seconds left.

The Troubie junior varsity also came up short, falling 13-6 to the Thunder. They trailed 6-0 at the half, but challenged immediately on Mariko Palmieri's 37-yard reception on the first possession. While SF stalled on a 4th-and-goal at the Rocklin 9, the Troubie defense made a red-zone stand that ended with Elizabeth McNearney's break-up in front of the goal line.

SF got on the board on the next series, despite taking over on its own 12. Palmieri had three receptions, the third of which came after quarterback Jocelyn Villaflor evaded a sack then found the freshman running back in the flat. Palmieri added yards after catch to the Rocklin 25, with Isabela Brenes following with a 16-yard grab. With a first-and-9, Villaflor rolled right, then opted to run the remaining nine yards, stepping just inside the pylon for the score. St. Francis went for the conversion and the one-point lead, but the Thunder broke up Villaflor's pass to Ava Votaw in the end zone.

With the score tied, Rocklin responded on the very next play: a 60-yard touchdown run. The one-point conversion increased the lead to 13-6, which held the rest of the way. The Troubie JV slips to 3-7 overall and 2-4 in SFL play, despite a streak of six straight game holding opponents to just two scores.

St. Francis returns to action for a 7 p.m. varsity-only visit to Folsom on Tuesday, then both teams are back at home on Thursday against Davis.