Nicole Hayeems accounted for five touchdowns, and Cardinal Newman's flag football team rolled to a 44–0 shutout of Healdsburg on the road.

Freshman quarterback Lyla Burgess added a milestone to the dominant victory, scoring her first varsity touchdown after being called up from junior varsity that day, while Colbie Piehl made impact plays on both sides of the ball.

The performance offered more evidence of the Cardinals' response to a tough 13–12 loss to Amador Valley—a result head coach Tino Retamoza believes has brought out a higher level of play from his team.

"You know nobody likes losing games, especially this group," Retamoza said. "But I have seen a huge difference in this team since our 1 point loss."

Against Healdsburg, Hayeems completed 11 of 18 passes for 179 yards and four touchdowns, adding another touchdown on the ground. Her connection with Piehl helped lead the passing attack, with Piehl hauling in six catches for 117 yards and two scores.

Piehl accounted for nearly two-thirds of Hayeems' passing yardage while also contributing an interception on defense. Naiomi Hayeems and Lynnea Fields each caught a touchdown pass, giving the Cardinals three different receivers with scoring catches.

Retamoza recalled Newman holding a 30–0 halftime advantage. The Cardinals continued adding to their lead while keeping Healdsburg off the scoreboard through the second half.

"They are out there performing at a high level that I have not seen from them this year, and I can see the girls are having a lot of fun and enjoying the game more," Retamoza said.

Newman's defense helped make it a complete team victory. Georgia Hicks joined Piehl with an interception, providing another highlight in a shutout effort that complemented the Cardinals' six offensive touchdowns.

Burgess supplied one of the game's most memorable moments. Elevated from the junior varsity squad for the game, the freshman quarterback scored her first varsity touchdown on a 15-yard run. It was a milestone moment for Burgess and another contribution to an offense that found the end zone both through the air and on the ground.

For Retamoza, the encouraging signs extend beyond the final score. The Cardinals' response to the Amador Valley setback, along with their renewed enjoyment of the game, has him optimistic about what this group can accomplish.

"If we can sustain this level of play and focus, I don't believe there are many teams out here that can beat us."