Crean Lutheran girls flag football team earns co-league championship with Cypress

Crean Lutheran’s girls flag football team, co-league champion of the Crestview League. (Photo courtesy Crean Lutheran High School).

Crean Lutheran High School’s girls flag football team, coached by Mike Shumaker, wrapped up the regular season this week defeating Esperanza 25-12 to earn a share of the Crestview League title with Cypress.

Crean Lutheran, which also defeated Esperanza 13-0 earlier in the season, and Cypress finished 6-2 in league.

“As for big wins, we defeated Esperanza twice in league play, which is huge,” Shumaker said. “We played an extremely difficult schedule including five of the top 10 teams in the nation. Being league champs, even co-champs with Cypress, in a league as strong as Crestview League is an exciting accomplishment.

“Our strong defense and ball-control offense led to a great season. We are excited to see who we draw in the CIF playoffs.”

The Saints (16-9 overall) and other teams will find out their draw in the CIF playoffs on Saturday. It’s the first year that CIF sanctioned playoffs have been held.

Top players on offense for the Saints have been running back Ellie Hordyk, who has 1,375 total yards, 1,145 rushing yards, 230 receiving yards and eight touchdowns; wide receiver Hayli Mcilroy, who has 1,156 total yards, 445 rushing yards, 711 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns; quarterback Danielle Mendoza, who has completed 332 of 530 passes for 3,474 yards and 31 touchdowns; wide receiver Ally Schimda, who has 1,055 total yards, 157 rushing yards, 893 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns and has also completed 7 of 14 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown; and center Olivia Green, who has 102 receptions (ranked No. 1 nationally among centers according to Shumaker) and 890 yards (ranked third nationally).

The Saints top defensive players are outside linebacker Jane Hewitt, who has 16 interceptions and eight pick sixes, 103 flag pulls and 13 passes defended; middle linebacker Izzy Desantis, who has seven interceptions and 107 flag pulls; Schmida, who has 22 interceptions and 37 flag pulls; Riley Paik, who has 11 quarterback sacks and 38 flag pulls; and defensive back Peyton Downs, who has four interceptions and 83 flag pulls.

Cypress (19-7 overall) wrapped up the regular season Wednesday defeating Downey 20-13.

The Centurions defeated Crean Lutheran 21-13 and 13-6 during league play.

Send girls flag football news to timburt@ocsportszone.com