La Serna’s Sierra Flores carries the ball for the East team during the inaugural National Football Foundation Senior All-Star flag football game at Simi Valley High School Dec. 21, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
SIMI VALLEY — The inaugural San Fernando Valley/Ventura vs. San Gabriel Valley all-star flag football game flashed an abundance of offense as the teams combined to score more than 100 points.
“This all-star game needed to showcase all of the talents these girls showed with their teams during the regular season,” Bonita High and East coach Mike Mann said. “You can’t ask for better than what happened in this game.”
La Serna’s Sierra Flores carries the ball for the East team during the inaugural National Football Foundation Senior All-Star flag football game at Simi Valley High School Dec. 21, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Agoura’s Jessie Giacomazzi celebrates a touchdown for the West team during the inaugural National Football Foundation Senior All-Star flag football game at Simi Valley High School Dec. 21, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
San Gabriel’s Aleena Rodriguez carries the ball during the inaugural National Football Foundation Senior All-Star flag football game at Simi Valley High School Dec. 21, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Etiwanda’s Samantha Garcia tries to get by a defender from the West during the inaugural National Football Foundation Senior All-Star flag football game at Simi Valley High School Dec. 21, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Fillmore’s Ahlisa Camarena makes a catch during the inaugural National Football Foundation Senior All-Star flag football game at Simi Valley High School Dec. 21, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Hart’s Gianna Costello carries the ball for the West team during the inaugural National Football Foundation Senior All-Star flag football game at Simi Valley High School Dec. 21, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Hart’s Gianna Costello carries the ball for the West team during the inaugural National Football Foundation Senior All-Star flag football game at Simi Valley High School Dec. 21, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
San Gabriel’s Aleena Rodriguez carries the ball during the inaugural National Football Foundation Senior All-Star flag football game at Simi Valley High School Dec. 21, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Ayala’s McKenzy Bacerra (31) is able to make a touchdown catch for the East team during the inaugural National Football Foundation Senior All-Star flag football game at Simi Valley High School Dec. 21, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Oxnard’s Sienna Angell carries the ball during the inaugural National Football Foundation Senior All-Star flag football game at Simi Valley High School Dec. 21, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
South El Monte’s Alexis Rodriguez gains yards for the East team during the inaugural National Football Foundation Senior All-Star flag football game at Simi Valley High School Dec. 21, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
1 of 11
La Serna’s Sierra Flores carries the ball for the East team during the inaugural National Football Foundation Senior All-Star flag football game at Simi Valley High School Dec. 21, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
The East, representing all-stars from the San Gabriel Valley, scored the game-winning touchdown with 11 seconds left, lifting them to a 61-55 win over the West all-stars.
The winning drive came after the West had taken the lead on a 2-point conversion following a touchdown with less than four minutes to play.
Mann believed his team was far from finished.
“I called them in and said, ‘Hey, listen, we don’t need to get it all in one play; we have time – let’s get down the field, let’s get chunk numbers, let’s be consistent, let’s run our routes and don’t panic. We’re going to get there and give ourselves an opportunity in the end.’ That’s what we did.”
McKenzy Bacerra of Ayala High threw the go-ahead touchdown to West Christian’s Grace Galdamez. It capped an impressive day for Bacerra, who earned Offensive MVP honors after throwing two touchdown passes and catching two.
She shared quarterback duties with La Serena’s Sierra Flores, who was named the game’s MVP while passing for three scores.
“Our QBs allowed the offense to flow,” said Mann. “I knew they could do it because they came to a couple of practices and picked up on 30 new plays they’d never seen before in less than an hour.”
Agoura’s Jessie Giacomazzi shined for the West. She earned defensive MVP honors in the game, but showcased high level talent on both sides of the ball. She finished with three touchdown catches on offense and an interception on defense.
“A threat every time she touched the ball,” said Mann. “We knew she was going to be good just watching her in warm-ups.”
Galdamez pulled in three touchdowns for the East.
Sarah Chavez of Simi Valley threw five touchdown passes and Maria Sturges of Thousand Oaks added an interception in the losing effort for the West.
