Front from left are Rio Pelote, Whitney Marcis, Zoe Johnson, Cora Grasso, Dakota Costa, Bailey Costa, Tania Marquez and Alicia Garcia. Back from left are coach Chris Heard, coach Bob Jaekle, Dana Munoz-Huerta, Morgan Imrie, Marley Gediman, Celina Heard, Juniper Helling, Khloe Reynolds and coach Tammi Richards. Submitted photo
Playoffs have been in full swing as the varsity flag football team at Mariposa County High School hosted the Lions from Destiny Christian Academy in Sacramento at MCHS on Oct. 29.
The back-to-back Southern League champs lost to the Lions 32-12.
“The score got away from us at the end but I thought we played a really good game,” said coach Bob Jaekle.
“We played solid for three and half quarters.”
About 30 seconds in to the first quarter, Juniper Helling got into the endzone after catching a pass from Celina Heard.
In true playoff fashion both teams battled as possession went back and forth throughout the entire first half.
The score was 6-0 for the Grizzlies at halftime.
Freshman Whitney Marcis came up big for MCHS at the start of the second half.
On the second play of the third quarter, Marcis intercepted a pass from the Lions quarterback and ran into the endzone for a touchdown.
The pick six brought the score to 12-0 for MCHS.
Dakota Costa celebrates with Whitney Marcis after Marcis intercepted and scored a touchdown. Photos by Amanda White
“It was exciting to see her not hang her head on the play before and she came right back and made a play on the very next play,” Jaekle said.
“That was pretty cool to see.”
About seven minutes later the Lions got on the board with a touchdown scored by Willow Sandry to bring the score to 12-6.
The Grizzlies regained possession at the start of the fourth quarter but Sandry had an interception for Destiny Christian.
The Lions weren’t able to capitalize on that possession and chose to punt.
Alicia Garcia caught the ball and ran for a 35-yard punt return for the Grizzlies.
Without about three minutes left in the game, Amara Knowles scored for Destiny Christian and the game was tied 12-12.
As the Grizzlies attempted to move the ball down the field, Mckayla Fulmer had a pick six for Destiny Christian and the momentum of the game began to shift.
Aaliyah Wilcox grabbed the two-point conversion and the score was 19-12 in favor of the Lions.
As MCHS tried to get something going, Destiny Christian intercepted again to regain possession.
With just over two minutes left in the game, Knowles scored a touchdown for the Lions.
The score was 25-12 with Destiny Christian holding the lead.
Sandry got into the endzone again and the Lions were able to capitalize on the extra point.
The Grizzlies couldn’t recover and Destiny
Christian walked away with the win 32-12.
“That’s a good football team and our defense shut them down a little bit,” said Jaekle.
“It’s an unfortunate way to end the season.”
MCHS finished their season with an overall record of 19-6 and an undefeated record of 10-0 in league.
“It’s exciting and makes it worth while,” the coach said.
“To see the emotion from them it shows you that it meant something to them. It sucks right now but in the long run it means a lot.”
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