Florin Throttles Valley 33-0
September 8, 2025

After a challenging preseason schedule resulted in a 0-5 start, the Lady Panthers of the Gridiron headed into the first game of the Greater Sacramento League opener and throttled the Valley Vikings 33-0. 

Despite the goose egg during the preseason, Florin has been literally in every game losing nailbiters to River City and Cosumnes Oaks. 

Coach Harris demands that his team either “wins or learn.” 

The Panthers learned that in order to compete, Florin has to play relentless football for 48 minutes. Florin played all DI schools from the Delta League and according to Maxpreps.com, some of the best teams in Sacramento: #10 rank Monterey Trail, #18 rank Pleasant Grove, #29 Elk Grove, and #47 Cosumnes Oaks. 

 “The schedule is by design. ‘Iron sharpens iron’. Before we can win a championship, first we have to become champions. We are still working on that”, Coach Mike Harris said. 

The Panthers looked like league champions Monday against Valley. The Panthers defense wore out the Vikings offense forcing Valley to make mistake after mistake. 

Zavanna Payne, Janiya Brister and Jazz Landers all had Interceptions. Jayda Lewis, Jazira Arteaga Khandilyan, Kamaeh Davis all had multiple flag pulls, while Veanna Flores had one. 

The game was close until Paris Jones took over. Jones scored on a 20 yard touchdown then recorded a safety when she pulled the Valley running backs flag in the end zone. 

Jones wasn’t done. 

After a Brister INT, Jones was in the end zone again on a brilliant 44 yard run shifting the momentum towards the Panthers. 

Coach Harris was very complimentary when talking about Jones. 

“Paris has heart. She sustained a knee to the quad. Kids call it a ‘deadleg’. She played through it. Those things hurt. Can’t develop mental and physical toughness without overcoming adversity.”

The Panthers put pressure on the Vikings and Valley crumbled. 

At the end of the day Janiya Brister had two more touchdowns. Zavanna Payne added another and the Lady Panthers rolled to a 33-0 league game opener. 

Note: Freshman phenom Rhian Fitzgerald suffered a knee injury and went out on a cart. Coach Harris believes she will be out for a week. 

Jazz Landers also suffered a lower leg contusion.

The Panthers limp into Elk Grove Tuesday to play the much improved Thundering Herd for a 4 pm start in another non-league contest designed to forge the Panthers into a team with grit and toughness, both necessary characteristics of a champion.