MVHS varsity girls flag football lost a close game, 6-7, during their first-ever home game on Sept. 18 against Presentation High School. 

The game started with both teams struggling to move the football, as neither could score any points. 

“We started with our energy levels really low,” sophomore Megan Pan said. 

The Spartans began to move the ball on their fourth drive of the game. Junior Nyaira Payne and Pan were contributing on the ground game, slowly bringing the offense to the brink of scoring. However, junior quarterback Kaila Matsumoto’s pass was intercepted, leaving MVHS empty-handed.

Regardless of these setbacks, Mountain View’s defense was also active throughout the game, intercepting the Presentation quarterback five times. 

Despite these efforts, the first half ended scoreless. However, the Spartans were eager to get points on the board.

“By doing some plays, [the energy] finally went up, ” Payne said. 

After the start of the second half, Presentation fumbled the ball, allowing the Spartans to take possession. 

The offense took advantage of the turnover by quickly gaining ground in the first downs. 

On third down, Payne made a quick ten-yard run just short of the endzone by one yard. On their last chance to score, senior Alana Hernandez caught a pass from Matsumoto and sprinted to the corner of the endzone, claiming their first touchdown of the game.

With the score at 6-0 in favor of the Spartans, Presentation started to make crucial plays that brought them to the five-yard line.

Ultimately, it wasn’t enough to stop Presentation, who scored a touchdown along with the following extra point bringing the score to 6-7. With only 50 seconds left on the clock, the Spartan offense was not able to gain yards, and the Presentation defense shut them down to end the game.

However the team wasn’t too disappointed reflecting on the game. 

“We played really hard until the end,” Payne said. “We played to the fullest.”