SAN BERNARDINO — Talent and desire are always a winning combination – and never more so than with the Beaumont High flag football team.
Cajon’s Janiya Zamora crosses the goal line for a late fourth quarter touchdown against visiting Beaumont at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cajon’s Sylen Rucker makes a one handed interceeption in front of Beaumont’s Lillyana Nunez during the first half at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Beaumont’s Mariam Oladeinde breaks away from Cajon’s Janiya Zamora for a long touchdown during the first half against Cajon at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Beaumont’s Mariam Oladeinde breaks away from a host of Cajon’s defenders during the first half at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cajon’s Sylen Rucker, right, is congratulated by teammate Marley Lara, left, after scoring late in the fourth quarter against Beaumont at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cajon’s Vanessa Sepulveda hauls in a first half pass as Beaumont’s Isabella Feldman defends at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cajon’s Janiya Zamora celebrates after breaking free for a late fourth quarter touchdown against visiting Beaumont at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A pass bounces off the fingers of Cajon’s Jasmine Jackson as a Beaumont player defends at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Beaumont’s Lillyana Nunez finds running room as Cajon’s Marley Lara tries to catch her at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cajon’s Vanessa Sepulveda hauls in a first half pass as Beaumont’s Isabella Feldman defends at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cajon’s Isabella Oestreich finds running room against Beaumont during the second half at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cajon’s Vanessa Sepulveda hauls in a first half pass as Beaumont’s Isabella Feldman defends at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cajon’s Vanessa Sepulveda hauls in a first half pass as Beaumont’s Koryn Rudell defends at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cajon’s Sylen Rucker makes a one handed interceeption in front of Beaumont’s Lillyana Nunez during the first half at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cajon’s Vanessa Sepulveda hauls in a first half pass as Beaumont’s Isabella Feldman defends at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cajon’s Sylen Rucker makes a one handed interceeption in front of Beaumont’s Lillyana Nunez during the first half at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cajon’s Sylen Rucker makes a one handed interceeption in front of Beaumont’s Lillyana Nunez during the first half at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cajon’s Sylen Rucker makes a one handed interceeption in front of Beaumont’s Lillyana Nunez during the first half at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Beaumont’s Mariam Oladeinde breaks away from Cajon’s Janiya Zamora for a long first half touchdown at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A pass bounces off the fingers of Cajon’s Jasmine Jackson as a Beaumont player defends at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Beaumont’s Mariam Oladeinde breaks away from Cajon’s Janiya Zamora for a long touchdown during the first half against Cajon at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cajon’s Sylen Rucker, right, is congratulated by teammate Marley Lara, left, after scoring late in the fourth quarter against Beaumont at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A pass bounces off the fingers of Cajon’s Jasmine Jackson as a Beaumont player defends at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Beaumont’s Mariam Oladeinde breaks away from Cajon’s Janiya Zamora for a long first half touchdown at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cajon’s Janiya Zamora celebrates after breaking free for a late fourth quarter touchdown against visiting Beaumont at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cajon’s Janiya Zamora celebrates after breaking free for a late fourth quarter touchdown against visiting Beaumont at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Beaumont’s Mariam Oladeinde breaks away from Cajon’s Janiya Zamora for a long first half touchdown at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Cajon’s Janiya Zamora crosses the goal line for a late fourth quarter touchdown against visiting Beaumont at Cajon High School in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025. Beaumont held on to defeat Cajon 26-20 in a Citrus Belt League girls flag football game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Three days after Beaumont made an early exit in the section playoffs last season, backup freshman quarterback Tessa Martinez was already preparing for this season. She worked out with his best friend, fellow freshman and star receiver Lillyana Nunez and was tutored by Beaumont tackle football coach Jeff Steinberg.
Steinberg has been a quarterback whisperer since he patrolled the sideline at Burroughs High in the windswept desert town of Ridgecrest 30 years ago. Steiny, as many call him, has a good thing going now with the athletic marvel Jeremiah Duhu leading his Cougar boys to a 3-0 record this season and Martinez pushing the flag football team’s record to 13-1 overall, 2-0 in the Citrus Belt League after its 26-20 win against host Cajon on Tuesday night.
The victory kept Beaumont tied for first place in the CBL with Redlands East Valley.
Beaumont led 26-0 in the second half until Cajon (9-2, 1-1) paced by receiver/defensive back Janiya Zamora roared back with three consecutive scores. .
Martinez knew after Jasmin Craner (more than 4,000 yards passing last season) graduated, that the quarterback job was hers, so she went to work.
“It’s just taken training,” Martinez said. “I just put in the hard work. Coach Steiny has helped me a lot. He’s a great coach.”
Martinez distributed the ball well to her army of receivers. She got the ball to her bestie Nunez six times for 64 yards and one touchdown.
“We’re best friends,” Martinez said. “We have a good connection. We work out and do routes and just hang out together.
Martinez hit speedy senior running back Mariam Oladeinde five times for 103 yards and one score.
She also connected with freshman Capris Capote five times for 38 yards and found junior Francheska Dizon five times for 30 yards and two touchdowns.
Keira Houston led the Beaumont defense with four sacks.
Leading 26-0. Beaumont seemed to have the game clinched, but Cajon had other ideas.
Cajon quarterback Ilene Garcia hit Jenaya Zamora with a 21-yard touchdown pass for 26-6. Then Zamora intercepted a pass on the Beaumont 12 and waltzed in for another score, making it 28-12.
Finally, Garcia hit Zamora from 25 yards out in the final minutes to bring Cajon to within one score.
“Our girls can play – as you can see No. 12 (Zamora) can catch anything thrown to her,” Cajon coach Jeff Imbriani said. “I love that we didn’t quit. We were down 26-0 and we came all the way back.”
Beaumont was able to run out the clock with one first down after that.
Said the fabulous Zamora, who is the niece of former Cajon greats Walter and Demontae Kazee who both played in the NFL: “On the field, I just keep the mindset that I keep playing hard until the clock hit 0:00. I play my hardest and give my all.”
Beaumont coach Frank Kingsley was mostly pleased with his team’s effort.
“Cajon’s a good team – very athletic and well-coached,” Kingsley said. “No. 12 is a good player; she’s super fast. But we have a lot of depth and we’re really young.”
Garcia threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns for Cajon. Zamora had five catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns.