By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Turlock flag football falls to West Park in section semifinal
Turlock flag football 1
Turlock’s Audrey Bailey reaches the ball across the goal line as time expires in the first half of Wednesday’s Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinal game at Joe Debely Stadium. The Bulldogs lost to West Park of Roseville by a 26-12 score (CANDY PADILLA/The Journal).

Turlock High flag football’s dominant season came to a halt on Wednesday night with a 26-12 loss to Roseville's West Park in the semifinal round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs.

The second-seeded Bulldogs finished the season with a 19-2 overall record, while the No. 3 Panthers improved to 20-4 and advanced to play No. 4 Sheldon in Saturday’s section title game.

In a rematch of a Aug. 22 preseason tournament clash in which the Bulldogs won by a 7-6 score, the Panthers came into Joe Debely Stadium and never trailed.

West Park scored on its first possession of the game Saturday, a 10-yard touchdown redemption by wideout Althea Mamacang. It was the first of four touchdown throws by quarterback Emily Cory.

Turlock flag football 2
Mara Gemperle blitzes through a West Park defender during Turlock’s 26-12 loss in the semifinal round (CANDY PADILLA/The Journal).

The game was tied at six at halftime after Turlock’s Marley Hernandez recorded an interception and quarterback Alondra Medel found Audrey Bailey in the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown as time expired. The Panthers, who possessed the ball out of the break, took a quick 13-6 lead when Mamacang caught a quick pass and ran 26 yards for the score.

Medel was intercepted on the first play of the first quarter. Three plays later, Cory fired an 18-yard pass to Nyla Esteban-Avilla in the back corner of the end zone to make it a 19-6 game.

Turlock punted on the ensuing drive, which led to another West Park touchdown — a 10-yard touchdown catch by Kelly Lane — after running 11 plays over roughly six minutes.

With just two minutes on the clock, the Bulldogs finally got on the board again by way of Medel’s 18-yard rushing touchdown with nine seconds in regulation. An onside attempt was no good, and the Panthers kneeled out the final ticks.

Medel finished with 188 all-purpose yards — 97 through the air and 91 on the ground.

Defensively, Turlock’s Gemma Bertalotto led all players with 15 flag pulls. Teammate Mia Valencia also led all players with four sacks while recording three flag pulls.