RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The Cordova Lady Lancers were dealt a 33-21 defeat at the hands of the Kennedy Lady Cougars on Tuesday, Oct. 15, inside Lancers Stadium, in a game that proved to be a microcosm of how their season has gone. 

The Lady Lancers (6-17 overall, 2-6 Metro League) would score on their first play from scrimmage as sophomore quarterback Becca Lee tossed a shovel pass to junior running back Kaylee Mitchell, who then took it 60 yards to the endzone. That would be the lone first half highlight for Cordova, as the Lady Cougars (4-10 overall, 1-7 Metro League) would score 12 unanswered points to take a 12-6 halftime lead. 

Kennedy would score on their first possession of the second half, extending their lead to double digits at 19-6. Cordova would turn the ball over on downs on their next possession, but that turned out to give the Lady Lancers the spark they needed. The Lady Cougars would surrender a safety after a bad snap went into the endzone, cutting the Lady Lancers' deficit to 19-8. From there, junior Taliyah Johnson put her team on her back as she zig-zagged 52 yards for a touchdown on Cordova's next possession, cutting the Kennedy lead to five. 

The two teams would trade touchdown scores on ensuing drives, with Cordova trailing 25-21 with just 30 seconds remaining and a chance to get the ball back due to having all their timeouts remaining to stop the clock. But Kennedy junior quarterback Nielah Cornelius had other plans as she broke off a 60-yard touchdown run to put the game on ice. 

After the game, Lady Lancers head coach Garrett Roth was clearly disappointed with the outcome. 

"To an extent," Roth said when asked if he was proud of the way his team clawed their way back into the game late. "We've had a rough season, and it seems like a common theme of being down at halftime and now there's no other option. It needs to start earlier than that. So sure, I'm proud of their effort there but I'm over moral victories."

On the night, Lee would go six-for-16 passing for 89 yards and two touchdowns to lead Cordova. On the ground, Johnson's late-game heroics ultimately earned her an eight-carry, 131-yard stat line to go along with her scoring jaunt. 

Roth, who was visibly frustrated after the game, voiced his frustrations with how things have gone for Cordova this season. "Seems like there's some problems we can't figure out how to solve," Lady Lancers head coach Garrett Roth said. "I don't know if it's effort, intensity, winners’ mentality...No disrespect to Kennedy but I don't think they are the caliber of team that should be beating us. Pretty disappointed with the all-around effort."

It wasn't all bad news for Cordova on the night, however. Roth revealed that he has accepted the head coaching position at Ferrum College in Ferrum Virginia, to coach Division II flag football, and has given an official offer to the team member Kaylee Mitchell to play for him at the collegiate level after she graduates with the Class of 2026.

Cordova is scheduled to wrap up their season with home games this week against Antelope and West Park, after press time.