The562’s coverage of Millikan Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Brian Ramsey and TLD Law.
Facing 4th & Goal at their opponents’ eight-yard line, the Millikan Rams had their playoff lives in the balance on Tuesday evening at DeHaven Stadium.
Trailing by a score against Valencia (Placentia), the Rams used a timeout with 3:19 left on the clock. To no surprise, Millikan got the ball to one of their seniors, and Kate Martin held on for a clutch grab at the goal line, tying the game with the chance for more.
Rams freshman Charlie Enriquez was able to tack on the extra point as she hauled in a pass from QB Holly Ibarra, giving Millikan their first lead in the final minutes as they came back for a 7-6 win in round one of the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs.
“I think it’s a testament to our league,” said Millikan head coach Romeo Pellum, after finishing off a perfect 4-0 opening round for the Moore League. “We have some tough league games where we have to battle and that was huge for us. We had close games against Poly and Compton, and that prepared us for right now. But these girls fight, they’re resilient, and they fight.”
As one of three seniors on the roster, Martin was determined to make sure the Rams pulled it out in crunch time, similar to how they knocked off league rivals Long Beach Poly almost a month ago to the day.
“Knowing this could have been my last 12 minutes in that quarter, we really fought for that win, and getting that touchdown really meant a lot,” said Martin. “We’re for sure a second half team, and we know that if we’re down, we’re coming out that second half. We’re here to win. So we know we gotta give it our all for that second half.”
Millikan’s game-winning drive started with less than six minutes to play, and they’d struggled to get much going downfield against a prepared Tigers defense. But the Rams made some adjustments, utilizing running back Alyssa Carrillo out of the backfield to march toward their game-winning TD.
Following the touchdown and the go-ahead extra point, Millikan still needed to get one more stop on defense. The Tigers were able to survive a 4th & 9 situation, driving all the way down to the Millikan 12-yard line in the final minute.
That’s when freshman Alani Rodriguez made a huge defensive play, snagging the flag of Valencia QB Elizabeth Nunez as she tried to escape the pocket. That was the third sack of the game for Rodriguez, all in the second half, and it was instrumental in securing the decisive stop.
The Tigers had two more heaves toward the end zone, but both landed incomplete to set off the celebration for the home team. Millikan’s defense has been solid all month long, recording four consecutive shutouts to end the regular season before allowing just the one score on Tuesday.
Valencia took the lead less than two minutes into the second quarter thanks to a TD toss from Nunez to Kendra Moyer.
In addition to the three sacks by Rodriguez, Nikki Cheshire was a force for the Rams’ defense, with a number of sure-handed flag pulls throughout the night and an interception late in the first half. Freshman Penelope Cleven also had a first-half INT for the Rams.
Millikan will hit the road for their second-round contest this Saturday, visiting Glendora High after their 13-12 victory over Torrance in round one.
