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JSerra’s girls flag football team focused on humility and preparation in compiling a 24-0 record in the regular season.
If the top-ranked Lions need a reminder about those virtues, their first round opponent for the CIF-SS playoffs will certainly keep them grounded.
JSerra opens the Division 1 playoffs Wednesday as the No. 1 seed playing host to South Coast League champion Trabuco Hills (14-5).
Trabuco Hills defeated JSerra in the teams’ preseason scrimmage, a result that Lions coach Brian Ong recalled after his team clinched the Trinity League title by sweeping rival Orange Lutheran.
“I remind the girls,” Ong said, “we lost to Trabuco Hills in our first scrimmage. So they have grown and they have put in such hard work to become the athletes, the football players that they are.”
“We’re excited to play good teams,” the coach added.
The JSerra-Trabuco Hills pairing helped highlight the release of the playoff draws across six divisions.
The Southern Section begins its second year of contesting playoffs in the sport on Tuesday.
Last season, JSerra lost to Canyon 19-14 in the first round of Division 1 while Trabuco Hills finished as the Division 2 runner-up to Northwood.
The Lions have rocketed this fall behind freshmen Sterling Flores, Ava Irwin, Tessa Russell and Katherine Meier, and several multi-sport athletes.
Trabuco Hills is led Emma Ortiz, a speedy wide receiver and defensive back.
Orange Lutheran (21-2), the defending Division 1 champion, is seeded second in Division 1.
Huntington Beach (23-1), co-champion of the Sunset League with Newport Harbor, is seeded third followed by Dos Pueblos (22-2).
Cypress (19-6) claimed the No. 1 seed in Division 2.
La Habra (16-7) and Mission Viejo (14-14) earned the second and third seeds, respectively, in Division 3 behind Mira Costa.
The section’s six playoff divisions are one more than last season. The finals are Nov. 8 at El Modena.
Orange County girls flag football: CIF-SS playoffs schedule, first round