Panthers lose to Herd 38-12
September 9, 2025

The Lady Panthers took on the upstart Elk Grove Thundering Herd Flag Football team. Last year, the Panthers took both games, the last one a thrilling  7 period overtime victory. 

This game started well for the Panthers. Florin won the toss and deferred. 

Elk Grove tried to throw to the flat and Zavanna Payne was in perfect position to intercept the ball and took it to the house!  12 seconds into the first quarter and Florin was up 6-0

The Herd responded with a drive of their own going up 7-6. 

On Florin’s first drive of the day, the Panthers went up top. QB Jayda Lewis threw a ball to Janiya Brister on an inadvertent back shoulder throw on a wheel route down the sidelines. Brister, attempting to get her foot down to make the catch, caught her cleat in the turf and suffered a knee injury. 

“Our depth chart is extremely thin right now”, coach Harris exclaimed, “We have no choice but to compete no matter what.”

Not only did Florin lose their slot receiver they also lost their free safety. Brister, as Fitzgerald on Monday who also suffered a knee injury, are two way players. In other words, they play on offense and defense. Fitzgerald is also the Panther punter. 

“Injuries are part of the game. No one is going to feel sorry for us.” Coach Carter Harris told Elite Blue Chip. 

The Lady Panthers fought courageously the entire game. Injuries from the previous game became more pronounced, yet the Panthers kept fighting and learning as the game went on. 
Paris Jones, Jazz Landers and Jayda Lewis all spent time with the trainer.

When the game was out of hand, the Panthers had players on the field that had never played before. 

Players were heard saying, “ I don’t know what I’m doing.”  Coach Harris said, “Good time to learn. Get in there.” 

At one point Zavanna Payne was the only veteran on the field. She never quit, evidenced by her  22 yard scamper on a QB option run. 

Payne said, “Losing is not ok. I am so tired of losing. I just stayed focussed on the next play.” 

“That’s what we learn in football and life, to ‘get up one more time than you fall’, " Coach Harris said. 

“If you need toughness, life is going to give you opposition”, Coach Carter Harris said. “It’s not what happens to you, it’s how you respond that matters.”

The Panthers limped through the park to the yellow bus on the way back to Florin determined to learn from their mistakes. 

It doesn’t get any easier. 

The Panthers have to lick their wounds and rebound for their second league game against West Campus this Wednesday, if Florin has any aspirations to fight for a Greater Sacramento League Title.