Foothills Sentry - December 2024

Foothills Sentry Page 14 DECEMBER 2024 COMMUNITY SPORTS BY CLIFF ROBBINS AND CHAD CLINE Orange Lutheran captures inaugural Girls Flag Football Championship Orange Lutheran High School, (22-2), ranked number one in the nation, was the co-champion of the Trinity League. The Lancers rode the arm of Makena Cook, throwing for 6,368 yards to the top receivers Julia Oberholtzer and Josie Anderson. Wide receiv- er Oberholtzer had 20 touchdown receptions for 1,170 yards. Ander- son was on the receiving end of 14 touchdown and 1,327 yards. Cook passed Orange Lutheran to a Div.1 Championship over Newport Harbor High, 20-18. In the first half, Cook completed 12 for 14 attempts for one touchdown and one interception. Newport scored on first possession. ACook touchdown strike to Ava Harrison evened the score. The PAT was good, taking the lead 12-7. New- port converted an interception into a touchdown. The OLu defense stiffened. It had one more scoring threat before the half with :04 sec- onds remaining. Cook’s pass fell incomplete. In the second half, Newport’s opening drive stalled when Cook went to the air completing passes to Ruby Fuamatu and Oberholtzer on the five-yard line. With 9:19 re- maining, Cook’s touchdown pass was good to take the lead, 13-12. Anna Paquette intercepted New- port. Cook found Harrison on the two-yard line. OLu scored on the next play, putting Lutheran up 19- 12, and the PAT was good, 20-12. Newport rallied to score with 1:22 remaining, but missed Orange Lu- theran ran the clock out for the win. El Modena In Division 2, El Modena High (11-6-0) qualified as the Freeway League Number 3 team, and trav- eled for a first round to Crean Lutheran (15-6-0). El Modena ad- vanced to round two with a 18-0 shutout win. Its season ended at Trabuco Hills, with a 31-20 loss. Canyon High In Division 1, Canyon High (16- 2-0) captured the Freeway League and traveled for a first round to JSerra High School (20-6-0), the Trinity League co-champ. Can- yon turned the ball over at the two-minute mark, leading 19-14. JSerra drove the length of the field. With :04 seconds remain- ing, JSerra got off one pass play. Canyon thought it turned the lights out on the touchdown pass. The ref ruled the receiver was out of bounds, preserving the 19-14 win. A 34-27 win over Santa Margarita put Canyon into the semi-finals against Orange Lutheran. Nickolette Morell from Canyon High School stretches to score the touch- down against JSerra High School. Halle Calderon from El Modena gets outside, to avoid being tackled. El Modena shut out Crean High, 18-0. The Orange Lutheran Lancers hoist the Division 1 Champion trophy after defeating Newport Harbor High School, 20-18. Sara Pinedo from El Modena High School signed her NCAA Letter of Intent to play softball at Loyola Marymount University. Kaitlyn Galasso from El Modena High School signed her NCAA Letter of Intent to play softball at Boise State University. Josie Anderson (55) breaks up a Newport pass in the end zone. Canyon High’s Caroline Hicks, in the traffic, hauls in the pass mid- field. Canyon dropped JSerra, 20-18. Orange Lutheran quarterback Makena Cook passed for another reception in the Division 1 finals. Josie Anderson from Orange Lutheran goes over the top to break up the pass. Claire Brakefield (16) gets in on the action. Maddie Romo from El Modena High School outruns the Crean High School defense to score. El Modena won, 18-0. Orange Lutheran High School Head Coach Kristen Sherman guided the Lancers to their first CIF-SS Girls Flag Football Championship.