A crowd of classmates, friends and family packed the stands at Arlington High School on Tuesday night as the girls flag football team played its first CIF game in program history. Trailing 6-0 after Santa Fe scored a touchdown before halftime, Arlington remained within striking distance for the rest of the game.
Coach Michael Zaremba relied on his All-League players as the Lions attempted a comeback. Sophomore Cadence McKee was a constant target of the quarterback, senior Phoenix Martinez ran the ball up the field, and Isabella Ortiz contributed at quarterback and safety. Unfortunately, the offense just couldn’t get past the red zone.
The Lions fell to the Sentinels, 6-0, in front of a rambunctious home crowd led by the Arlington boys baseball team.
“I’m really proud of the way that the girls came out,” Zaremba said. “They played with heart and intensity the entire game. We had our opportunities on both sides of the field.”
It was a tight contest on the field, but Arlington couldn’t overcome a touchdown by the Sentinels before the two-minute warning in the second quarter. The Lions’ defense limited Santa Fe’s yardage throughout the game, stopping the Sentinels on an extra-point attempt after its touchdown, recording an interception to open the second half and tipping multiple passes.
“The red [zone] just shortens up, the field gets tight, defense locks down,” Zaremba said. “Hats off to Santa Fe.”
Whenever the Lions’ defense took over, the boys baseball team chanted its praises.
They shouted “We don’t do that” anytime Santa Fe failed to gain additional yardage and “Defense” when the Lions’ defense made a stop.
“[The Lions] did a great job, and I couldn’t ask for a better game and a better showcase,” Zaremba said. “We had a great atmosphere, and I’m just very proud of the way the school turned out to support these young ladies.”
At one point, the boys football team took a break from its own practice to support the girls playing in a historic game.
With a young core of varsity players, including quarterback Ortiz and McKee leading the way, the Lions will look to build on their progress next year.
“I’m sad about it, but we had a really good run this year,” McKee said. “I’m proud of all the girls, and we’ll definitely get better next year.”
“We’re going to lose one of our best seniors, but I think we can thrive even if she’s gone. I hope next season we do just as good, if not even better,” McKee added.
The upperclassman she was referring to was Martinez, who’s been a member of the flag football team throughout her four years of high school.
“I feel kind of bummed because we lost, but I’m glad that we made it this far,” Martinez said. “... I hope to continue playing football [at a] community college and then transferring. Hopefully, it doesn’t stop here. Hopefully, I get to keep playing.”
Martinez will be cheering for her teammates next year from the stands.
“I hope next year they do even better than we did,” she said. “I hope they can even make it to the championship.”
Zaremba is confident Martinez will have the opportunity to continue playing in college.
“I’m really happy that Phoenix was able to showcase herself today as a senior,” he said. “She’s gonna go off with a lot of pride and opportunities at the next level. I really hope she’s able to continue playing wherever she goes.”
As for next season, Zaremba said the team has the foundation it needs to continue getting better.
“[Ortiz] and McKee are gonna be back next season, and we’re just gonna continue rolling with them,” he said. “They’re a really strong foundation to keep building for the future.”
