Palo Alto High's girls flag football team lost 39-13 to Los Altos on Wednesday, Sept. 23, in its SCVAL De Anza Division opener. The Vikings were tied 13-13 near halftime before the Eagles scored 26 unanswered points.

The game marked Paly's first contest in its new, tougher league. The Vikings won their division last season with a 14-4 record and moved up to the De Anza Division for 2026-27, according to a Midpeninsula Post preseason profile. Los Altos entered the game at 9-1 overall and on a six-game winning streak, per MaxPreps. The Eagles have outscored opponents 332-38 through 11 games this season, a total that includes Wednesday's win.

Los Altos scored first.

Paly answered with a touchdown, but the Eagles scored again to retake the lead before Paly tied the game 13-13 near halftime. Clara Teixeira intercepted a pass and returned it for a pick-six during the game.

"I remember thinking I'm seeing the ball come to me and I catch it but almost drop it and make a run for it," Teixeira told Viking Magazine, which first reported the game's details.

Quarterback Eleanor Wells scored the Vikings' other touchdown. On defense, Zoe Quintana pulled flags throughout the game and told teammates the game was not over while the score was still close.

The second half belonged to Los Altos. The Eagles leaned on a handoff-heavy attack that Teixeira said caught Paly off guard. One Viking rusher left the game with a stomachache, and Paulina Dubey stepped in to fill the gap. Los Altos kept scoring, and Paly could not respond.

Teixeira said after the game that the team needs to study opponents' tendencies more closely before kickoff. Los Altos' reliance on handoffs was something the Vikings could have prepared for, she said.

The Vikings are coached in part by assistant Nancy Nguyen, a former member of the U.S. Women's National Flag Team who also heads the women's Berkeley flag football team, according to the Midpeninsula Post.

The loss drops Paly to 5-4 overall and 0-1 in the De Anza Division, per MaxPreps. Los Altos improved to 10-1 overall and 1-0 in league play. The Vikings host Santa Clara at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, then travel to Los Altos for a rematch Oct. 12.