After being ranked first in San Diego and second nationally, Bonita Vista High (BVH) varsity girls’ flag football team demonstrated their skills after winning their first home game against the Mater Dei High (MDH) Crusaders on Sept. 12. Despite leaving the BVH football stadium with a final score of 25-12, the win came with a struggle.
Just under five minutes into the game, MDH immediately took the lead after scoring a touchdown. These were the only points scored for the next 15 minutes as the Lady Barons worked tirelessly on defense. In the last 59 seconds of the first half of the match, the Lady Barons scored their first touchdown bringing the score to 6-6.
“We could have done better in the first half. The first half started rusty because we struggled to come together as one team to communicate efficiently,” girls’ varsity flag football captain and senior Alejandra Hernandez said.
A mere 10 seconds later, MDH scored another touchdown reestablishing their advantage in the game. Despite their limited time, the Lady Barons fought back and successfully completed a long pass from the quarterback and senior Mahliyah Wilson to freshman Layla Schoen who scored the Lady Barons’ second touchdown eight seconds before halftime. This play ended the first half of the game with the Lady Barons in the lead with a score of 13-12. Wilson explained the work the Lady Barons put in to counter MDH’s offense and bring the score back in their favor.
“It was difficult in the beginning during that first half, but I’m glad that we kept our composure, and finished off as a team and got the win,” Wilson said. “We definitely had that fight in us to come and get the ball and get some [interceptions] on the defensive side..”
The Lady Barons took halftime as an opportunity to evaluate ways they could improve their performance to prevent MDH from getting an advantage over them. Hernandez mentioned that communication was a major problem the team needed to fix going into the second half of the game.
“During halftime, we discussed our offense and that we have to stop throwing to the middle so much since those were where the interceptions from the other team were coming from so we need to throw more to the sides,” Hernandez said. “Defense needed to communicate better with each other about who has the middle, who doesn’t and who has the sides and who has the rushes.”
The rapidly shifting struggle for power between the Lady Barons and MDH during the first half caused the stadium to be full to the brim with tension. The Lady Barons were quick to stop MDH’s offense as captain and senior Lucia Quintero intercepted the ball from MDH’s receiver and ran the ball from the 50-yard line to the end zone, asserting the Lady Barons’ position in the lead with a score of 19-12.
The touchdown showcased a clear improvement for the Lady Barons. Hernandez shared the biggest differences she noticed that allowed them to score a touchdown so early in the second half just as the opposing team did in the first.
“After we came together, our connection got a lot better and our trials were better. By the second half we picked it up and we played how we usually play,” Hernandez said.
With six minutes left in the game, the Lady Barons were struggling to keep the ball out of MDH hands. Captain and senior Tatiana Colon intercepted the ball mid-air and bolted to the end zone earning the Lady Barons their final score of 25-12. Colon explained how she was able to avoid getting her flags pulled and what motivated her to score this final point.
“I loved running up the field. I saw a girl coming from my left side running to the right side, so I just kept running straight to the left side since she was already running to the right,” Colon said. “It felt good scoring that touchdown. I wanted to get a touchdown this game because it seemed to be a harder game for us.”
Although the Lady Barons achieved great success in their first year, the team continues to strive for improvement. Hernandez expressed her support for the team and her eagerness to see them reach new levels of success.
“It’s our first year doing this sport and I feel excited about it. I love my team, they’re so talented.,” says Hernandez. “This is just getting started. We haven’t even hit our max yet. And I feel that when we do hit our max we will be one of the best teams on a national level.”
