Savanna Garbarino scores against Wheatland

GALT, CA (MPG) - The Liberty Ranch girls flag football team keeps running out of firsts to chase and opponents to beat.

Kamrynn Blevins completed 11 of 13 passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns, ran 13 times for 121 yards and another score and threw no interceptions, and the Hawks blanked Wheatland 34-0 on Wednesday, Nov. 4, in the CIF section semifinals.

The victory sends Liberty Ranch (14-0) into Saturday’s section championship game and closes out a league title season in only the third year the program has existed. It is the deepest the Hawks have ever gone in the section playoffs.

“We’re excited, and I like our chances,” head coach Andy Peterson said. “We have to give it everything we’ve got.”

Gianna Farren wards off an interception and snags that pass.

Liberty Ranch led 13-0 after one quarter, 20-0 at halftime and 27-0 through three quarters, then added one more touchdown in the fourth. The Hawks scored on five touchdowns and four conversions while holding Wheatland without a point.

Amya Trujillo scored twice, and Savanna Garbarino and Ruby Gorelick each reached the end zone. Blevins threw touchdown passes to Trujillo and Gorelick and added a 27-yard scoring run of her own. Garbarino, Blevins and freshman Caroline Herring each converted a point-after try.

Blevins, a senior who has started at quarterback all three seasons since the program began during her sophomore year, has not thrown an interception this season.

Kamrynn Blevins passes before the Wheatland defender can pull her flag.

Asked what it means to reach the section playoffs, Blevins pointed to the teammates she grew up with.

“It means so much,” she said. “Just being here with my girls is another thing — growing up with them, not even having the opportunity to play flag, and then bringing it all together. We have our four originals — me, Lexi, Savanna and Fatima — and just to be here through all of our ups and downs, every other playoffs. Last year and the year before, we kind of got hosed those years. We weren’t able to do it. So it’s just something special to be here with them and to have all of our hard work paying off, every morning practice and just getting each other through it, for sure.”

Peterson said the season came together because there is no soft spot on the roster.

“We’re just an overall good team,” he said. “Everyone on the team is solid, and there’s no weak link. It’s just been a really solid, total team effort.”

Tenley Messersmith runs the ball.

Blevins credited the improvement in the passing game to repetition and to the receivers who put in the work.

“I definitely think we had a little rough time catching at the beginning of the season, and we really worked on it at practice,” she said. “My wide receivers just really honed in on catching the ball, and our deep balls definitely flourished throughout the game. And my blockers — they were so great this whole season. They really worked on it and had way more time in the pocket this season than ever, especially with these quick rushers. So, honestly, all my girls, I kind of owe it all to them. I love them so much.”

Ruby Gorelick catches an interception in the semi-final playoffs.

Liberty Ranch’s defense made sure the lead stood. Lexi Williams finished with nine flag pulls and an interception, and Kirinjeet Dhaliwal added six pulls. Gianna Williams, Blevins, Gianna Farren, Ella Quaschnick, Fatima Cabrera, Tenley Messersmith, Trujillo and Makenlee Robbins also recorded pulls.

Assistant coach Mike Turpin said the Hawks had already turned their attention to Saturday’s final.

“This game is done,” Turpin said. “We’re going to play a very difficult opponent Saturday. It isn’t going to be easy. But we brought it as a team this whole year. We’ve been there for each other the whole way. This ride is not over.”

Liberty Ranch’s 14-0 record includes its league schedule and two playoff wins. The Hawks won the league title outright and have yet to lose a game this season.

The section championship game was played Saturday Nov. 7 against Placer.