'Target on our backs': Escalon girls flag football takes down No. 1 Lodi
Nine games into the first CIF girls' flag football season and Lodi sits atop the ranks as the No. 1 team in the nation and the Sac Joaquin Section. The Flames met their match on Wednesday when they hosted SJS No. 5 ranked Escalon for the second time this season.
“Lodi beat us 12-8 when we played them in their tournament a couple of Saturdays ago,” said Steve Largent, Escalon girls’ flag football head coach. “I watched the film a good four, five times and we were right there so we have a special opportunity today to see if we’ve grown.”
The Cougars' growth was undeniable as they went on to take down the undefeated Flames winning 13-0. Here are the key takeaways from Escalons’ upset win over the No. 1 team in the nation.
Mistakes pile up for Lodi
Lodi opened up the game looking to establish its air game with quarterback Janie Schallberger. It wasn’t too long after the start that Escalon spoiled that plan with senior defensive back Violette Kent snagging an interception off of Schallberger’s third pass of the game. The turnover would be the start of heaps of mistakes made by the Flames.
From false start penalties due to movement on the line to dropped passes, the top dog of the SJS didn’t look like themselves for the majority of the matchup.
“That was one of our most sloppiest games we've had,” said George Duenas, Lodi girls’ flag football head coach. “We were up against a good team and good teams expose you to those weaknesses and like your mistakes. Escalon did a good job at that.”
Lodi would continue to struggle to get things flowing offensively. The Flames' most promising drive came in the final seconds of the game where they had gotten the ball to the 4-yard line. They still couldn't get the ball past the Cougars' swarming defense and would end the drive like all its other drives — with a turnover.
More: Edison girls flag football wins first game of the season against Stagg
“First half was rough but in the second half I thought we did better as we were able to drive and we were moving,” Duenas said. “I think we’re fine though. We got a game tomorrow against Tokay, and we got them once, so our goal is to finish the sweep over them.”
Sammy Lang can’t be stopped
It didn’t take long for Escalon to capitalize off of Lodi’s mistakes and quarterback Sammy Lang was the key. The senior two-way player punished the Flames defense on the ground and in the air, having a hand in both of her team’s touchdowns.
“I feel comfortable at the quarterback position because my family is really big on football,” Lang said. “Like my older cousin was QB for Escalon football and now he’s a coach for the varsity football team, so it kind of runs in the family.”
Lang finished the game with a touchdown pass from 45 yards out connecting with junior Helena Arroyo. She also added a 15-yard rushing touchdown and a one-point extra point pass in the first half of the match. Along with lighting Lodi up offensively, Lang played a key role in shutting out the Flames at the defensive back position.
More: She's got game: Edison High hosts first girls flag football tryouts
With this victory, the Cougars advance to 10-2 as they head into their final non-league matchup of the season against Tracy on Sept. 13 while the Flames begin Tri-City Athletic League play on Thursday.
“I feel like now we have a big target on our back because we just beat the number one team in the nation,” Lang said. “People are gonna be like looking at MaxPreps and that’s going to put a big X on our back. We just gotta stay humble, and not get too cocky.”
Record reporter Shannon Belt covers sports. She can be reached at sbelt@recordnet.com or on Twitter @ShannonBelt3. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Escalon girls flag football beats No.1 nationally ranked Lodi
