Adelanto's historic flag football season ends with a loss in the CIF-SS championship game
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Entering the CIF-Southern Section Division 6 flag football championship game, Adelanto’s defense was the topic of conversation.
In four playoff games leading up to the showdown with Bishop Alemany for the Division 6 crown on Saturday, Nov. 8, the Saints allowed just 13 points and recorded shutouts in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Adelanto’s relentless defense sure showed up against Bishop Alemany.
But unfortunately, the Saints offense struggled and couldn’t score a point. Adelanto’s lone points in the championship game were thanks to the defense — a safety in the second quarter.
Adelanto’s inaugural and historic flag football season came to an end with a 6-2 loss at El Modena High School’s Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange.
“We are going to look at this film, look at all the stuff we could have done differently,” Adelanto head coach Eric Torres said. “We left a lot on the field due to mental errors and that starts with me. Coaching errors, our preparation, there were probably a lot of mistakes I made.”
Both offenses struggled to piece together significant drives in the first half.
Adelanto finally drove deep into Bishop Alemany’s territory but was picked off near the end zone on fourth-and-goal to start the second quarter.
That favorable field position paid off as the Saints recorded a safety as Raeyara Cook swiped Sophia Jeorg’s flag in the end zone for a 2-0 lead.
After exchanging punts on the ensuing drives, Bishop Alemany finally scored with 1:05 left in the first half. The Warriors scored a long touchdown pass from Sienna Valadez to Lexie Acquah-Adubah for a 6-2 lead just before halftime, and the score held until the final whistle.
“We had a lot of offensive struggles but there are certainly a lot of things to build on for next season,” Torres said. “ It’s going to bug a lot of us for a couple of days. But we are going to look back at this in getting ready for next season. But I feel we can only get better from here.”
Being a part of history
Adelanto Principal Ebony Purcell stood on the sidelines during the game watching the pregame ceremony, the action and ultimately receiving the runner-up CIF-SS plaque with great pride.
But it wasn’t history that Purcell watched unfold over the course of the flag football team’s inaugural season.
“Her-story,” is how the principal describes this season.
“As a former student-athlete, I am honored to be a part of championing in something so great for girls sports in the High Desert,” Purcell said after the game. “This program came from student voice, as something our girls wanted to try. And for these girls to make it this far in our first season, I am so honored to be a part of the journey with them.”
When asked if she would like to send a message for the flag football team, Purcell paused and took a deep breath.
“In life, as long as you persevere, there is nothing that you can not do,” Purcell said. “There are no obstacles that you cannot overcome. Keep going. There will be things that happen in life, roadblocks or obstacles. But you can persevere. Look at our game against Artesia, when we were down. I want them to remember that when they come together, when they dig deep, rely on each other, anything is possible. We were losing that game and weren’t even supposed to be here.
“So I am incredibly proud of our girls.”
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Adelanto loses to Bishop Alemany in the CIF-SS flag football title game
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos