SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Freshman Monet Zauner recorded two interceptions, while fellow ninth grader Lola Fox hit both Natalia Zitelli and Annie Swanson for touchdown strikes, but St. Francis surrendered scored four unanswered scores in falling by a 27-13 final to Ponderosa in the varsity half of a non-league flag football doubleheader Monday night.

The Troubadours fall to 0-2 for the year. The St. Francis junior varsity lost its season opener, 18-0, against the Bruins prior to the varsity game.

St. Francis struck first blood on its second offensive series, set up initially by Zauner's first pick to midfield. Junior Nevaeh Gavino had the second of her team-best four receptions to move the Troubies into the Pondo red zone, then Fox found Zitelli in the end zone just six minutes into the contest. Junior Jade Abalateo converted the one-point try to give SF an initial 7-0 lead.

Meanwhile, the Bruins went three-and-out on two of their first three possessions, with another resulting in the Zauner INT. However, Pondo found its offensive stride midway through the first half, with junior quarterback Ellie Escobar finding Cheyenne Jones for a long pass into the SF red zone, followed by a short TD to Bella Escobar.

Zauner responded with her second pick with about five minutes remaining before halftime, collecting an errant pass deep in Troubie territory, and running it back to midfield. St. Francis managed to work its way to the Pondo 10 but the Bruins held their hosts on downs with just 10 seconds left. The halftime margin remained at 7-6 for SF.

However, Pondo scored three touchdowns in the second half: two on catches by Rowan Thomas and another on a long run from Molly McFarland. The McFarland scamper came after a near-interception: Abbey Pavelchik broke up a Brooklynn Nordquist attempt over the middle that Reese Lieuwen nearly captured. Instead, the Bruin senior escaped two deflaggings down the right sideline before finding paydirt at the 16-minute mark.

SF cut into the lead after the two-minute warning, again thanks to a Gavino gain to the Pondo red zone. This time, Swanson grabbed Fox's toss for the score.

Pavelchik finished the contest with five breakups and junior Lucia Vicio pulled five total flags to lead the defensive effort alongside Zauner's highlights in the secondary.

The SF jayvees failed to reach the Pondo red zone in any of their six possessions, but enjoyed some individual highlights in their first game of the year. Freshman Camille Villanueva pulled a team-best four flags while Kaitlen Takeuchi had three deflaggings – including one for a loss – plus a hurry against Pondo's Paige Perry. Offensively, Mariko Palmieri had two receptions and four carries on offense.

St. Francis returns to play on Wednesday with a road doubleheader at Woodcreek. Game times are 6:30 (JV) and 7:30 (varsity).