St. Francis Clinches First CCS Division I Flag Football Title

BREAKING: The St. Francis Lancers have made history, claiming their first-ever Central Coast Section Division I flag football championship by defeating Branham 13-6 at Santa Clara High on November 8, 2025. This remarkable turnaround comes after a challenging start to the season at 0-2, showcasing their resilience and determination.

The Lancers, seeded No. 3, triumphed after a thrilling playoff run that included a nail-biting 13-12 win against Aragon in the semifinals and a solid 32-18 victory over Santa Clara in the quarterfinals. Their victory against the top-seeded Bruins (record: 15-9-1) was marked by a stellar performance from their defense, culminating in a crucial final stand led by Kaelin O’Shea, who batted down a fourth-down pass from Sydney Short in Branham territory.

O’Shea emphasized the importance of teamwork, stating, “The key was really communication throughout. Our rushers were insane today. They just wanted it. You could tell they had the drive, and they needed it.” The offense was powered by touchdown passes from Zoe Tripp to Sofi Houston and Brooke Bennett, with Bennett’s 4-yard reception sealing the victory in the fourth quarter.

“This is what it’s all about,” coach Sean Smith declared post-game. “Everything is earned, not given. This whole season was a fight.”

Smith, a St. Francis alumnus from the class of 2017, took over the flag team last season, leading them to a 12-9 record but facing no postseason opportunity in 2024. “Coming from a little bit behind in the league, we were underestimated. That alone gave us an underdog mentality that we were able to pull through,” O’Shea said, reflecting on the team’s journey from early struggles to championship glory.

In addition to the Division I excitement, the CCS Division III championship saw No. 3 Priory upset top seed Presentation 21-20, thanks to an interception from Shay Johnson with 49.6 seconds left. Priory finishes the season with an impressive record of 11-4, while Presentation ends at 20-6.

Meanwhile, in the CCS Division II championship held at San Mateo High, second-seeded host San Mateo edged out No. 4 Burlingame 7-6, concluding their championship season with a record of 12-4. Burlingame wraps up their season at 12-8.

This historic win not only marks a significant milestone for St. Francis but also sets the stage for future competitions as they look to build on this success. As coach Smith put it, “The vibes were not great, that’s OK. Look at the vibes now, right? You guys did this.”

Stay tuned for more updates and coverage of high school sports across the Bay Area.