Cypress Women’s Flag Football Wins Historic Home Opener 19–12 Over East Los Angeles

CYPRESS, CA - The Chargers made history and backed it up with a statement win, knocking off East Los Angeles 19–12 on Tuesday afternoon in the first home game in Cypress College women's flag football history. A late fourth-quarter touchdown at the 11:07 mark provided the final margin, capping an efficient three-score night for the Chargers and launching their inaugural season with a milestone victory.

Cypress wasted no time giving its home crowd something to cheer about. Early in the first quarter, quarterback Mia Cabral engineered a quick two-play, 43-yard drive that ended in the Chargers' first home touchdown, then followed it by completing the 1-point conversion pass for a 7–0 lead at 9:17. East Los Angeles answered with a methodical 55-yard march of its own, as their quarterback guided a seven-play drive and finished it with a scoring toss to trim the margin to 7–6. The Huskies, however, couldn't convert the extra point, a theme that would loom large as the game unfolded.

The second quarter turned into a back-and-forth showcase of big-play offense. Cabral struck again with another quick scoring drive, leading Cypress 63 yards in just three plays and pushing the lead to 13–6 with 1:56 left in the half. Once again, the Chargers threatened on the conversion but came up short. East Los Angeles refused to back down, responding in the final minute as their team found the end zone to cap a 66-yard drive, cutting the deficit to 13–12 with just 23 seconds remaining. Cypress' defense tightened at the goal line, denying the Huskies on yet another 1-point attempt to preserve the one-point halftime advantage.

While the scoreboard stayed quiet in the third quarter, Cypress' defense and situational execution quietly shifted the tone of the game. The Chargers forced two interceptions in the contest, helping to offset East Los Angeles' 292 yards of total offense. East L.A. moved the ball through the air, but Cypress repeatedly came up with timely stops to keep drives from turning into points.

The defining moment came early in the fourth quarter. Protecting a narrow 13–12 lead, Cypress capitalized on prime field position and struck on a one-play, 3-yard scoring drive at 11:07, pushing the advantage to 19–12. Though the Chargers' conversion pass was no good, the touchdown gave the home side a full-possession cushion and ignited the sideline and stands. From there, the defense took control, securing the victory in the closing minutes with precise flag pulls and strategic coverage by Alisa Kangas, who sealed the team's inaugural home win with a decisive interception in the final seconds.

Cabral was the steady engine of the Chargers' offense, completing 12 of 20 passes for 135 yards and two touchdown passes while adding 34 rushing yards on seven attempts. Cypress made the most of its 30 offensive plays, piling up 227 total yards and averaging 7.6 yards per snap. The passing game stretched the field behind receivers like Melony Bernabe, who posted 91 receiving yards on four catches, and versatile playmaker Maddy Banks, who contributed in multiple ways with three receptions for 53 yards and also tossed a 39-yard touchdown pass while going 1-for-1 through the air.

UP NEXT: The Chargers will return home Wednesday, February 18 to host El Camino College at 3:30 PM.

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