East Union dominated time of possession, but Sierra overcame that with big plays in the second half for a stunning 26-19 victory at Dino Cunial Stadium.
The visiting Timberwolves (3-1, 6-5 overall) scored 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to snatch the victory away from their rival.
Sophomore Felisa Cruz-Olenhouse, a first-year player, sparked them with an interception return that set up their first touchdown of the game early in the third quarter.
She showed her playmaking ability on the eventual game-winning play, a 60-yard catch-and-run touchdown. Cruz-Olenhouse, who plays center on offense, received the pass from Maitland Kohoutek on a short crossing route and took it from there, evading multiple defenders while sprinting from the left sideline to the right on the way to the end zone.
Kohoutek then connected with Tessa Zalunardo on the conversion to cap the final score with 3:15 remaining. The two split time time at quarterback.
Cruz-Olenhouse admitted she let emotions get the best of her, as she got flagged for an unsportsmanlike penalty at the end of the touchdown jaunt.
“It was just so overwhelming,” she said. “It’s my first year doing this, and I’m just so happy I’m able to do all this for my team. We’ve had a lot of bumps throughout the season, but we needed this.”
Those splashy plays on both sides of scrimmage were routinely made by reigning league MVP Janessa Barnes the past two seasons. The senior is out for the season with a knee injury. It has taken a team effort and the emergence of multiple underclassmen to keep Sierra competitive.
“Janessa is just a one-of-a-kind, generational athlete. There’s nobody like her,” Sierra coach Chris Zalunardo said. “At the same time, we have a lot of young, amazing talent coming up. (Cruz-Olenhouse) just stared playing this summer and she really liked it. She trains more than anybody I know, even on Sundays. She is an athlete, and she puts the time in and takes it serious and it shows.”
Freshman Sofia Montes also came through with a timely play during the comeback. She wriggled out of a crowd of Sierra defenders on a 21-yard touchdown catch-and-run midway through the fourth quarter, and Zalunardo scrambled for the successful one-point try that tied it at 19-19.
On the Timberwolves’ previous scoring drive, Kohoutek dropped a perfect long ball to Zoe Sutton down the right sideline for a 33-yard gain on the final play of the third quarter. Priya Dhaliwal punctuated the series with a 7-yard touchdown catch.
Kohoutek completed eight of 15 passes for 122 yards and the two TDs. Zalunardo (3-of-5, 30 yards; four rushes, 13 yards) capitalized on Cruz-Olenhouse’s game-changing interception, scoring on an 8-yard run.
Cruz-Olenhouse leaped vertically in front of intended receiver Caliyah Lopez near midfield and returned it to the Lancers’ 8-yard line. It was the only turnover of the game.
Sierra was desperate for that type of play after getting held to just 26 yards of offense in the first half.
Quarterback Julianna Gaspar led East Union, rushing for two touchdowns and hitting freshman Avina Harrington for another. Gaspar finished with 198 yards on 25-of-35 passing.
“We had them down and had a couple opportunities (to put the win away), but they’re defending league champs, and they just kept on fighting,” East Union coach Steve Jackson said. “You salute good programs. We talked about how this was going to come down to the end, and they made some plays.”
The Lancers (2-1, 7-5) went three-and-out before punting on their first two drives of the fourth quarter, but Gaspar resuscitate the offense at the end. She hit Larissa Harries and Lopez for good gains, and East Union got to the Sierra 10-yard line in the final minute. Two passes to the end zone fell incomplete on third and fourth downs, locking up the important win for the Timberwolves. They lost 7-0 to first-place Central Catholic last Thursday, Sept. 11 but remain a game back.
East Union previously downed them 14-6 in the Orestimba Tournament last month. The Lancers play Central Catholic in Modesto on Tuesday.
“This (win) was huge for us as a team, and it gets us back in the running,” coach Zalunardo said. “Our league is tough. It’s up for grabs.”
Sierra hosts Mountain House next Thursday, Sept. 25.
