The Dons varsity flag football team (6-1) defeated the Burlingame Panthers (3-4) 21-6 on Oct. 7 on Aragon’s senior night. They celebrated their seven seniors, Angelina Alvarenga, Maya Yoo, Janelle Jee, Arianna Ventura, Nuria Lopez Adorno, Maya Pappas and Caroline Harger.
The Dons got off to a slow start, as in their first possession their drive stalled out in the red zone after a long completion from Harger to Ventura. On the ensuing drive by the Panthers the Dons let up a couple completions that situated the Panthers just outside the red zone. From that distance the Panthers struck on a 24 yard touchdown pass. After a failed point after attempt, the Panthers led 6-0.
“We just want to set the tone for younger players and inspire younger girls coming up after us.”
The Dons’ next possession looked promising, behind a few chunk plays by Yoo the Dons were marching right back into the red zone. But just like their previous drive they left the red zone empty handed. The Panthers got the ball back with just under three minutes left in the first half, and through the first few plays of their drive it looked as if they would put up points again. Inside the red zone with under a minute left Yoo came up with a massive interception that kept the Panthers out of the end zone. At halftime the Dons trailed by six points and their red zone offense was stagnant.
Aragon wasted no time in their first possession of the second half. After a couple short gains the Dons scored on a 53 yard strike from Harger to sophomore Annalise Krause tying the game at 6. On the extra point attempt Harger connected with Yoo, giving Aragon a one-point lead over the Panthers.
On the next Panthers possession the Dons clamped up on defense again. An interception by junior Quinn Shirley put the Dons in Panthers territory for the second straight time. With a one possession lead and the ball, the Dons needed to put more points on the board. Again, the Dons turned to Yoo, who ran into the end zone off of a short yardage pitch play to extend the Dons lead to 14. Another pass from Harger to Pappas resulted in a successful extra point attempt and put the Dons up 21-6.
The defense shone in the second half, and it all started with an interception by freshman Amelia Ortiz. The interception gave the Dons possession on the Panthers’ half, and set up a short drive for the Dons that ended in a touchdown run by Yoo. The Dons, up seven points, later extended the lead to eight after Harger and Pappas connected on the extra point attempt.
After the score, Burlingame got the ball back with a small sum of time left on the clock. But for the third time in a row the Dons’ defense picked off the Panthers quarterback, the interception was Ortiz’s second pick and the Dons’ fourth of the game. The Dons then ran the clock down and walked away with a 21-6 comeback win over the Panthers.
The Dons are 6-1 overall, an impressive record for a team playing a sport together for the first time ever. Adjusting to the sport has been surprisingly easy for the Dons, and after their week one loss to Carlmont the Dons are on a five game win streak.
Coach David Yoo attributes their quick adaptation to the game of flag football to their athleticism and intellect.
“They’re all athletes, every single one of them,” David Yoo said. “They also all … can learn anything quickly that has helped them pick up the game.”
The team joins thousands of female athletes across the state in the California Interscholastic Federation’s inaugural girls flag football season.
“The Dons are on a five game win streak.”
“We feel really proud of our school and proud that we’re making history,” Maya Yoo said. “We just want to set the tone for younger players and inspire younger girls coming up after us.”
The Dons look to extend their win streak through their last three league games, and hope for a second shot at the undefeated Carlmont Scots in the playoffs.
Their next game is Oct. 25 at 5:15 p.m. against Wodside at Sequoia.
