Since the sport was sanctioned three seasons ago, Menlo girls’ flag football has proven a trailblazer in the sport. With Saturday’s 27-13 win in the inaugural Central Coast Section Open Division championship game, the Lady Knights owned a new first.
“Ever since I was a freshman, we just always wanted to play at the highest level and as long as possible,” said Ava Allen, a Menlo junior who has played quarterback since day one. “Being a new sport, we just fell in love. Finally, to be able to play under pressure to the very end, really meant a lot to us.”
Menlo quarterback Ava Allen throws a pass in the Knights’ 27-13 win over Los Gatos.
Pam McKenney
It isn’t often when Menlo needs to rally to win, but that’s exactly what they needed to do Saturday against a tough Los Gatos team. The Knights took the lead for good on Allen’s 17-yard keeper, followed by a conversion pass to senior Maren Mulloy, to give the Knights a 20-13 lead with 11:12 left in the game. Allen’s pass to sophomore Lisi Mahe down the middle set the Knights up for the score.
The defense held tough with freshman Sierra Wynn leveling a sack and Mulloy’s flag pull ending the drive and forcing a punt.
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An interception by sophomore Kaelee Wang, who was relentless as a rusher all night, set the Knights up for its final touchdown — a brillant pass from Allen, who juked a host of defenders and found Mulloy in the end zone.
After the Wildcats took a 13-7 halftime lead, the Knights engineered a dominant second half.
Los Gatos started the third quarter with the ball, but sophomore Anika Shah plucked a Los Gatos pass from the air, and Menlo took over.
Allen scored on a keeper and the Knights tied the score at 13 with 7:34 left. The Knights continued with relentless defense. Wynn made consecutive sacks before Shah made her second pick of the night.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
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PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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