CIF-SS FLAG FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Valley Christian (16-6) vs. West Ranch (11-10)

Where, when: Huntington Beach High, Saturday, 2:30 p.m.

Analysis: Get it, start it, keep it going. That’s the motto that fueled the Valley Christian girls flag football team to reach a CIF Southern Section title game in the program’s first year. The Defenders are the No. 2 seed in Division 4 and have defeated three of their four opponents in the playoffs by at least two touchdowns. Valley Christian finished second in the San Joaquin League before beating Brentwood 38-7 in the first round, El Rancho 13-6 in the second round, Gabrielino 41-24 in the quarterfinals, and Santa Paula 33-19 in the semifinals.

“It is absolutely a dream season,” Valley Christian first-year coach Korey Smith said. “It’s glory to God. Coming in here, the expectation was really just get the girls learning how to play football and just having fun playing the sport. That was my goal, but once we got rolling and we started winning a couple of games, I think confidence built and the girls started to gel together, trust each other, and then when we moved forward and we got Keylee (Baker) there, it kind of came together, and all the girls started to ball out.”

Valley Christian junior quarterback Molly Douglas has thrown for 4,852 yards, 53 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

“I’m very proud of how far we’ve come,” Douglas said.

Freshman receiver Xoe Carter has 95 catches for 1,608 yards and 16 touchdowns. Baker, a transfer from Orange Lutheran, has 54 catches for 1,051 yards and 14 touchdowns after sitting out the first half of the season due to transfer rules.

“At Valley Christian, sports are big there,” Baker said, “but it’s not like super big where everyone is always making it to the finals. So it’s like we could be the first to do it and it would just be an amazing opportunity.”

West Ranch, which finished tied for third in the Foothill League, beat Temecula Prep 40-20 in the first round of the playoffs, Redlands Advent 26-18 in the second round, Kaiser 26-7 in the quarterfinals, and Hemet 24-21 in the semifinals.

Valley Christian’s playoff momentum and high-scoring offense should lead it win in the Division 4 final.

Winner: Valley Christian