Exhilaration, anxiety, and suspense electrified the field during varsity flag football team’s final league game against Aragon High School on Wednesday, Oct. 30. The forecast for the game was clouded with uncertainty — Aragon’s unpredictable league performance made it impossible to judge who would likely come out on top. But the Panthers left no doubt who was the better team, beating the Dons 30-0 in a dominant performance. With the win, Burlingame finished the season 9-2 and tied with Mills for second place in the Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) standings.

After falling to Aragon last year and Carlmont High School a week before the matchup against the Dons, the pressure was higher than ever for the team to make a comeback and end their season with a resounding victory. It wouldn’t be easy — senior co-captain and quarterback Miranda Sibley had sustained an injury that prevented her from playing.

As the game began, however, junior wide receiver Haleh Ansari was excited and determined to end the season strong.

“This is our last time playing with the seniors and the team together, and we all wanted our final game together to be a win,” Ansari said. “I feel like we all gave it everything we had.”

Right away, Ansari proved to be a swift and unstoppable force on the field — outpacing competitors and grabbing a pick-six just minutes into the game, followed in succession by two touchdown catches. Before Aragon could find their footing, the Panthers already jumped out to a 24-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Burlingame’s defense prevented the Dons from finding the scoreboard. Sophomore Cailyn Lish excelled with seven flag pulls, while seniors Naomi Leslie, Louann Bernaudin, and Mayu Simpson each secured five. Collectively, their efforts pushed back Aragon at every turn, producing a shutout performance.

The Panthers faced more resistance in the second half, but Ansari turned the defensive tide by intercepting the ball in Aragon’s endzone and running it back for a touchdown — extending their lead to 30.

Even with the loss of Sibley, the Panthers maintained both their on-field excellence and enthusiastic spirit. Junior quarterback Kendall Gorshen — who started in her place — threw the game’s first touchdown as the rest of the team cheered in a showcase of avid support and camaraderie.

“I’m proud of how we kept it positive, even though Miranda, our quarterback, was hurt,” Ansari said. “We didn’t let that stop us, and we knew that we were a good team, and we kind of stayed all positive and worked together.”

The leadership and initiative that other team members took on during this game, especially in Sibley’s absence, was reassuring. It opened the door for the team’s self-sustainment by shifting dependence off of the seven seniors in preparation for their inevitable and heartbreakingly imminent departure.

“I was just excited to play because it’s our last game, and obviously a little nervous,” sophomore running back and rusher Maddy Koo said. “After the game, [I felt] kind of sad, because it’s our last game with the seniors.”

Flag football’s spectacular season will not continue into the PAL playoffs, as plans to implement the sport in Central Coast Section play won’t begin until next season. With rigorous offseason practice upcoming, the Panthers are already preparing for next year’s playoff competition.

Reflecting on the game and season, Ansari credits the team’s success with its infectious positivity — no matter the circumstances or opponent.

“I think we always want to play our best and do our best no matter what,” Ansari said. “If it’s our last game or our first game, we always want to [succeed].”