Golden State Showdown Week 2: Recap of the Action Packed Matchups

Week 2 of the Golden State Showdown kicked off with three exciting matchups, setting the tone for a thrilling season ahead. Our coverage team was on the ground to capture all the action, including a special in-person visit to Rancho Cotate High School to cover their game against Casa Grande High School. Here’s a closer look at how each matchup unfolded! Each school represented in the matchup will receive a custom gift at the end of the season and will be invited to the upcoming 2026 Golden State Storm Season. Stay tuned for Week 3.

Featured Showdown: Casa Grande vs Rancho Cotate

Rancho cruised to a 38-0 shutout victory over Casa on Thursday, September 4. Prior to the game, the two teams were given their complimentary Golden State Storm swag, including athletic bracelets and eyeblack branded with the Storm’s logo. This was much to the delight of the athletes. 

On the field, Rancho cruised, led by quarterback Hayden Munson who threw for two touchdowns and ran for one more. Versai Steverson both ran for a touchdown and caught one. Mia Jane Smith caught the other of Munson’s passing touchdowns, and Selela Leanna tacked on a rushing score. 

On the defensive side of the ball, Isabelle Ellison recorded two interceptions, and Maci Steard returned an interception to the house. As we go into the next week of flag Casa Grande will have an exciting opportunity to secure a win against Sonoma Valley High School.

Matchup #2: Hillsdale vs. San Mateo

San Mateo went head-to-head with their next-door neighbor Hillsdale under the lights, and it was intense from the jump. The first half stayed scoreless, with both teams battling hard, but San Mateo finally broke through in the third quarter and pulled away for a 13-0 win. Valentina Gomez Palacio was a force, hauling in a touchdown on offense and racking up two sacks on defense.

Hillsdale had plenty of highlights of their own. Junior QB Ania Aleshi was sharp, throwing for 116 yards with an 81% completion rate. Junior linebacker Sam Garvey made her presence felt with 7 tackles and an interception, while sophomore pass rusher Ashley Hua added 3 sacks to keep San Mateo on their toes. Both teams left it all on the field—can’t wait to see what they bring next week as Hillsdale takes on Menlo Atherton next!

Matchup #3: Alisal vs Hollister

Alisal rolled past Hollister under the lights with a dominant 38-7 win. Both teams entered the matchup coming off strong seasons, but Alisal wasted no time setting the tone. Freshman star Brooklyn Smith had a breakout night on defense, tallying three interceptions and returning one for a touchdown. Mia Rivera also made her mark with two touchdowns and an interception of her own. Hollister will look to bounce back next week in a key matchup against King City early in the season.