Florin Stifles Valley in Rematch 14-2
October 3, 2024
Valley drove over Highway 99 to ‘Run it Back’ against the Lady Panthers of the Gridiron at Panther Park in the beautiful confines of Florin High School. Florin won a critical game they needed to have in order to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Panthers won 14-2 as Florin milked the clock to seal the deal.
In the last affair, Valley stunned the Panthers 18-0.
This game started out the same. The Panthers went ‘three and out’ in its first possession.
The second time Florin had the ball, the Panthers were pinned at their own two yard line after a goal line stand.
Panthers ready for game time.
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When Florin’s Erin Foster had her flag pulled inside their own endzone, Valley recorded a safety and quickly led 2-0.
On the next series, Florin MVP candidate Erin Foster picked off the Valley Quarterback and went “to the House like” and Florin led 6-2. This would be Foster’s 5th interception in two games.
“Erin is the GOAT and that’s my best friend!” DeAn Preston said.
The Lady Panthers added on.
On the next series, Jayda Lewis threw a strike to her favorite receiver Zavanna Payne. Payne ran a perfect post route, Lewis hit her in stride and Florin had a 12-2 lead with time running out before the half.
Lewis then hit Janiya Brister on a perfect comeback route at the front cone and the Lady Panthers led 14-2. This would be a lead that the Panthers would never relinquish.
Florin came out of the half looking to attack, but on the first series, QB1 Jayda Lewis injured her ankle when her own player (Estefania Ortiz) collided on a handoff exchange.
Zavanna Payne, Florin’s QB2, took off her receivers gloves and ran the offense.
Panthers offense moving the ball
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Coach Harris told Elite Blue Chip, “We took as much time off the clock as possible. The way our defense had been playing lately, we weren't going to beat ourselves.” Florin kept the ball on the ground, primarily giving it to Senior Estefania Ortiz. Ortiz had been nursing a nagging injury she sustained in early August.
Ortiz had 10 carries for 71 yards, once darting for 20 yards almost going to ‘the house’. Florin’s defense continued to stymie the Viking offense with relentless pressure again from Senior Kimia Rhinehart.
“Kimia pressured the Valley QB into throwing the ball much more quickly than she wanted to. It led to turnovers and incompletions. When the Vikings did complete passes, Florin was all over them. Janiya Brister also added an interception, her 9th of the year. Paris Jones and El Gato led the team in flags pulled. Jones had 7, while Kat had 6. Hazel Her, Katelyn Chan, Aneesa Perkins, Payne, Foster and Brister all had tackles on the night.
When Harris was asked by Elite Blue Chip if the Valley coach was happy with Harris’ stalling tactics, Coach Harris said, “ We are in the business of winning football games. When you win, someone has to lose. With Jayda going down, we tactically worked the officials and the clock and got a must win to keep our playoff hopes alive.”
She . . .could. . .go . . .all. . . . the . .. way
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The Panthers are coming together as a team after hitting some turbulence. Outside noise, high expectations, and a reluctance to embrace winning characteristics caused Florin to lose games they were expecting to win. I’ll keep saying it, if you want to be a champion you don’t have a whole lot of choices. You have to do the right things right and we were not doing that. We focus on playing nameless, faceless opponents. Respect all fear none.” Coach Harris reiterated. “That is how we will get to the playoffs. One play at a time.”
“Our biggest enemy is ourselves”, Coach Marquez said. “When we are locked in, we are good. When we are in our own heads, not so good.”
The victory over Valley brings Florin’s record to 8-7 and 4-4 in League.
Expect Florin to make a jump in the standings and also lick some wounds as the Panthers do not play a non-league game during the week.
Lady Pathers chalk up two wins in a row.
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“We were supposed to ‘run it back’ again against Kennedy, but they bowed out and canceled. We played 10 games in three weeks. That was by design to build some grit, learn to compete” Coach Harris exclaimed. “The light is starting to go on.”
The Lady Panthers take on West Campus and Burbank next week, both teams Florin handled the first time around.
Panther PRIDE. I’m ALL in!
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