Last-second stop lifts No. 4 Grossmont

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: September 17, 2024

2024 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer

FLETCHER HILLS – Fourth-ranked Grossmont registered four of its five interceptions in the red zone, but it was a fourth-down pass deflection by senior Jaelyn Jensen in her own end zone with 10 seconds remaining that allowed the Foothillers to edge Carlsbad, 20-15, in Monday’s (Sept. 16) girls flag football contest at Lt. Mitchell Memorial Field.

Jensen also recorded an interception, but one of her teammates in the defensive secondary which set a record which can never be broken.

Jaelyn Jensen

In the first half, Siena Botkin recorded the second of her two pass thefts, returning the ball the full length-of-the-field for a touchdown.

Since the yardage in the end zone doesn’t count in amateur football (flag or tackle), with an 80-yard field, the record can be equalled yet never broken.

Botkin’s runbackprevented Carlsbad from taking the lead, instead giving Grossmont a 13-6 advantage.

Carlsbad (4-4-1) also played strong defense, registering a safety to make it a perilous 5-point margin.

The Lancers had opportunities to take the lead in the closing moments of each half, but were denied.

In the first half, Ashley Beard gathered an intercetion with nine seconds remianing, Then Jensen’s delivered the victory-cinching deflections with 10 seconds left in the ballgame.

Siena Botkin

Hillers quarterback Marissa Farace fired a pair of scoring passes, the second on an 8-yard hook-up with Jensen.

On the PAT, Gabi Thomas ade a fingertip grab of the ball in the far right-vorner of the end zone for a 30-8 lead.

Carlsbad got one score back to again make it a 5-point margin, but the final Lancers drive ended three yards short after four plays on goal-to-go.

Grossmont (5-1 overall) also received an interception by sophomore Arionna Simpson.

Early-season Action

Marissa Farace

Grossmont opened the season with lone score in the final 10 minutes to nip Calexico, 25-20, then blanked defending CIF champion Bonita Vista, 13-0.

The Hillers then participated in the Honor Bowl at Cathedral Catholic as part of a girls-boys doubleheader in front of more than 1,000 spectators — GHS won, 19-13, over the No. 7 Dons.

The ballclub then fell to a 14th-ranked Imperial, but then scored another late TD to nip 11th-ranked Braley, 19-12, befpre topping Carlsbad.

Next for Grossmont is a road encounter with No. 9 Chula Vista Community Learning Center (a small charter school) on Wednesday (Seot. 18) at 3:30 p.m.