ELK GROVE, Calif. – Junior Natalia Zitelli rushed for two touchdowns in the first quarter, Lola Fox hit Jade Abalateo for a third strike in the second frame, while Colleen Medina and Lucia Vicio each nabbed interceptions, but St. Francis surrendered 32 unanswered points to fall by a 32-20 final to Monterey Trail in non-league prep girls' flag football action Thursday night.
The Troubadours, playing their third game in as many days, suffered their first loss of the year to move to 10-1.
Medina notched her pick on the first series of the game, then Vicio pulled down one of her own after the first Zitelli touchdown. Zitelli's second plunge came on a fourth-and-goal from the MT 4-yard line with less than a minute in the first quarter, giving SF a 12-0 lead. That edge swelled to 20-0, when Fox's 32-yard completion to Tayli Paeu-Lindgren set up another successful red zone chance. Fox found Abalateo for the short TD, then reconnected with Paeu-Lindgren for a two-point conversion with more than eight minutes remaining in the half.
However, that proved to be the last scoring drive for St. Francis for the remaining 32 minutes of play. The Mustangs spoiled the shutout on a quarterback keeper after the two-minute warning in the second. They made it a one-possession game with a 17-yard TD hookup late in the third. Another MT keeper closed the gap to 20-19, with Medina intercepting the conversion attempt to keep the Troubies in front.
Instead, the Mustangs scored on a pick six at the 8:45 mark, then added an insurance touchdown in the final two minutes on a fourth-and-goal at the SF 1-yard line.
St. Francis begins Sierra Foothill League play with home games against Davis and Whitney on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.
Schedule note: Thursday's doubleheader with Whitney was previously scheduled at Jesuit High, but has since moved back to the St. Francis grass field for a 4 p.m. start. Furthermore, the September 12 "Holy Flags" rivalry game with Christian Brothers will now play at 5 p.m. (JV) and 6:15 p.m. (varsity).
