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LAKE FOREST — JSerra’s girls flag football team found a worthy opponent Saturday for putting its rising talent into proper context.
The Lions faced Newport Harbor in a clash of undefeated teams in the Division 1 final at the El Toro tournament.
JSerra’s quarterback combination and youthful athleticism more than held up.
Freshmen Ava Irwin and Tessa Russell caught dazzling touchdowns from sophomore Ava Van Heerde and freshman Kate Meier, respectively, and freshman linebacker Sterling Flores tallied nine flag pulls as the Lions beat defending champion Newport Harbor 27-6.
JSerra, ranked No. 3 in Orange County, improved to 16-0. Second-ranked Newport Harbor, the CIF-SS Division 1 runner-up season to Orange Lutheran, dropped to 14-1.
“They’re absolutely loaded,” Newport Harbor coach Jason Guyser said of the Lions. “Them and Orange Lutheran (are loaded with club players).”
“We can still compete, though,” the coach added. “That’s our first loss.”
Irwin sparked JSerra in the opening quarter with over-the-shoulder grab for a 41-yard touchdown from Van Heerde, who shared quarterback duties with Meier.
JSerra then flashed its fourth-down execution.
On the final play of the first half, Russell leaped in the end zone for a 21-yard reception from Meier on fourth down as the Lions opened a 14-0 lead.
Newport Harbor responded early in the third with a 5-yard TD catch by Ella Woods from Scarlett Guyser but JSerra delivered another fourth-down strike.
On the final play of the third quarter, Meier tossed a 7-yard touchdown on fourth down to Irwin, who made a diving catch in the front corner of the end zone as the JSerra lead grew to 20-6.
Irwin finished with six receptions for 82 yards and two scores while Russell collected six catches for 71 yards and a TD.
“We work together really good and I’m really proud how everybody did,” Russell said of her team. “It’s exciting.”
JSerra employed a unique offensive formation on its final score.
In the fourth, coach Brian Ong’s squad lined up Meier and Van Heerde at opposite wide receiver spots, well behind the line of scrimmage. The Lions snapped the ball to the speedy GG Szczuka, who split two defenders on an 8-yard run up the middle.
Between the wrinkle, and two productive quarterbacks, the JSerra offense looked formidable.
“(We) rely on one another,” Van Heerde said of her partnership with Meier.
Meier completed 13 of 17 passes for 143 yards. Van Heerde went 11 of 15 for 127 yards.
JSerra and Newport Harbor split a pair of preseason games, Meier said.
“Definitely a relief,” she said of the victory. “Harbor was definitely going to be one of our biggest competitions, and to see that result, kind of gives us a vision of what it’s going to feel like to play really big teams.”