Four seasons in, Piedmont High's girls flag football program reached a milestone: its first North Coast Section playoff berth. The Highlanders went in as the No. 10 seed in Division 3 and traveled to No. 7 Terra Linda in San Rafael on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
The season ended there. Terra Linda won 27-14, according to the MaxPreps box score. Piedmont scored a touchdown in the second quarter and another in the third, and led 14-13 going into the fourth quarter before the Trojans scored twice to pull away.
A program on the rise
Coach Beth Black told the Piedmont Exedra before the game that the team gets "one step better" every year. "Number one is celebrating we're there," she said. "No. 2 is recognizing we had the skill to get there based on the strength of the schedule."
Both teams finished fourth in their leagues: Piedmont in the West Alameda County Conference Shoreline League, Terra Linda in the Marin County Athletic League. Terra Linda had a strong passing game, led by freshman quarterback Mira Weidner, with over 3,500 passing yards and 32 touchdowns this season, and sophomore receiver Piper Stewart, with 127 catches, according to the Exedra. Piedmont averaged 14 points a game, and freshman Emma Wendel, called up from junior varsity, scored its touchdown in a 12-6 loss to San Leandro on Oct. 24.
Piedmont finishes 10-13 by MaxPreps' count. Terra Linda (13-8) moves on to face Alhambra of Martinez on Saturday, Oct. 31. The NCS girls flag football championships continue Oct. 31, Nov. 4 and Nov. 7.