Janessa Barnes snagged four interceptions and two touchdowns Tuesday, leading Sierra to a commanding 18-0 win over visiting Manteca.
“Janessa had a great game, as usual,” Sierra coach Chris Zalunardo said. “She’s just doing what she does.”
The junior receiver/safety led the offense with seven catches and 92 yards. Zoe Sutton added four receptions, 36 yards and a touchdown.
Tessa Zalunardo (14 of 19, 154 yards, TD) and Maitland Kohoutek (8 of 19, 118 yards, two TDs, interception) again split quarterbacking duties. Kohoutek contributed an interception on defense.
The loss is the first in Valley Oak League play for Manteca (4-1, 8-9 overall), while Sierra (6-1, 13-5) remains in a first-place tie with its other cross-town rival, East Union. The shutout in the second straight for the Timberwolves’ defense and fifth of the season.
“We’ve been working on defense a lot, because it’s what we really struggled with in the beginning of the season,” linebacker Taylor Zalunardo said. She paced the defense with five tackles and a pass breakup.
“We really focused on that, and I’m really glad to see that it’s working. Everything that we’ve put into it, it’s coming out now.”
Sierra’s attack got rolling early. Barnes struck on the second play from scrimmage, taking a short pass from Zalunardo and turning it into a 55-yard touchdown. On the Timberwolves’ next series, Barnes found the end zone again with a 2-yard shovel pass from Kohoutek.
They were able to sneak in one last score in the final minute of the first half, thanks to a heads-up play from Taylor Zalunardo.
Kohoutek delivered a deep pass to Peyton Duarte, but the ball bounced high off the receiver’s shoulder. Zalunardo was able to come down with the catch on the run but was stopped short of the end zone by Manteca safety Jaesha Dunn.
“I was looking back at my quarterback when I was running my route, and I saw her hips flip to pass it to my teammate,” Taylor Zalunardo said. “I always follow (where the throw is going) just in case anything like that happens.
“When it bounced off her shoulders, I saw a Manteca girl right there to get it, and I was ready for the tackle. I just ended up grabbing it in the air and started running. It worked out.”
Sierra was able to cash in on the opportunity, with Sutton scoring on a 13-yard toss.
“That was just being at the right place at the right time,” coach Zalunardo said. “I always tell them that when you’re on the field, always go 100% at all times. Even if the pass is to somebody else, you’re there to catch it if it doesn’t go the way it was supposed to.
“That was a huge play for us, huge gain. It really helped us with our momentum in the game, for sure.”
The momentum did not carry over into the second half, however, as both defenses clamped down. Manteca defensive back Antonique Jones preserved the second-half shutout for her team with an interception in the end zone. Chantel Rosillo contributed a sack. Sydney Snyder led the Buffaloes defense with eight tackles.
“Defense played amazing,” Manteca coach William Riddick said. “That’s lights out for me.”
Offensively, the Buffaloes could not get untracked. They relied on running back Audry Villanueva, who rushed for 69 yards on seven carries and caught four passes for 40 yards.
Riddick attributed the offensive struggles to Sierra’s pass rush. Although Margeil Garcia did not record sack, her pressure led to rushed throws and interceptions.
“We just got a little intimidated by the rusher,” Riddick said. “We haven’t (faced) a girl that quick and that can put that much pressure, so it’s a new thing for us. We’ll re-calibrate, and we’ll have something for it on Thursday.”
The rematch will again take place at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium but with Manteca as the host team. Renovations are ongoing at Manteca’s Guss Schmiedt Field.
