After the Valencia flag football team pulled off a win in the game’s final play in victory over Saugus last week, the Vikings captured lighting in a bottle twice and walked off the Castaic Coyotes at home Tuesday, 12-7, and began the Foothill League season 3-1.
“Last year, [Castaic] beat us … I don’t think we even scored. So, this one means a lot,” Valencia coach Cedric McCalister said. “These girls came a long way from last year. Some of our freshmen, they really added to the equations of what we needed to do.”
With less than a minute remaining in the game, Vikings’ quarterback Camilla Quintero led Valencia’s (5-4-2, 3-1) offense downfield and were 2yards out of the end zone with the clock running down.
With two seconds remaining, Quintero snapped the ball off in time and threw the game-winning pass to freshman receiver Juliet Wojell in the back of the end zone and walked off the Coyotes (5-3, 2-1) for the win.
After the play, the Castaic coaching staff spoke with the officials and argued that the receiver did not have possession of the ball prior to going out of bounds.
The referees convened following the play, and the call on the field stood as a touchdown for the Vikings.
For Valencia, McCalister spoke on the game’s final play and credited Quintero for tossing the game-winning touchdown and the rest of the offense for making the play possible.
“That was so awesome. I told [Quintero] to scramble, and the blockers did a heck of a job,” McCalister said.
With the win, the Vikings hold the top spot of the Foothill League standings in first place with a 3-1 record.
The Vikings will look to build upon their early-season momentum with a Tuesday matchup at Golden Valley High School against the Grizzlies.
Tuesday’s game between the Vikings and Grizzlies is set to begin at 6:30 p.m.
As for Castaic, the loss dropped the Coyotes to 2-1 in Foothill League but will look to bounce back Thursday at Saugus High School in a matchup against the Centurions with the game scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
After Tuesday’s games, here are scores from around the Foothill League:
Saugus 14, West Ranch 12: The Saugus Centurions (4-4, 2-4) recorded their second Foothill League win of the season Tuesday with a home victory over the West Ranch Wildcats (2-4, 1-1).
In the win, the Centurions bounced back in Foothill League play after falling in the team’s last contest against Valencia.
The Centurions will look to keep up their momentum with another home matchup at Saugus High School Thursday against the visiting Castaic Coyotes with the game set to begin at 5 p.m.
As for West Ranch, the Wildcats will look to bounce back Thursday at West Ranch High School against the Hart Hawks with the game set to begin at 5:30 p.m.
Hart 46, Golden Valley 6: Following back-to-back losses, the Hart Hawks (6-6, 2-1) bounced back with a home win over the visiting Golden Valley Grizzlies (2-7, 0-3).
Hart’s Shelbie Ratzlaff tossed for three touchdowns and 154 yards with the Hawks’ rushing attack totaling 268 yards and four touchdowns.
The Hawks play again Thursday at West Ranch High School against the Wildcats at 5:30 p.m. As for Golden Valley, the Grizzlies will look to rebound in Foothill League play on Thursday with the game set for 6:30 p.m.
