Three of the 4 groups taking part in for the Alabama High School Athletic Association flag football championships this week at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium have been there final 12 months.
What does this imply, if something, in regards to the state of the younger sport which was solely sanctioned by the AHSAA final 12 months?
According to the person who has led his team to 2 straight championships and 56 consecutive victories, the sport has progressed a terrific deal.
“The teams have gotten better, the coaches are better and there’s better competitiveness,” mentioned Mitchell Holt, who has his 19-0 Central-Phenix City team again in Birmingham, ranked first in the AL.com Alabama Flag Football Top 10 and third in the nation in keeping with USA Today. “I talked to coach (Taylor) Burt at Hewitt the other day about how much better it’s gotten. It’s so much more advanced.
“The best of the best a few years ago would be just as good of a team now, not knocking those kids, but it’s a testament to how teams are coming along. I think there are 130 teams that have declared (to participate) for the next reclassification. That’s a big deal. Overall, the game has gotten much better.”
Holt additionally mentioned the elevated participation in the sport by Alabama faculties can be attributed to the excessive colleges’ successes. The University of North Alabama would be the first NCAA Division I Football College Subdivision stage program in the state to sponsor the sport subsequent 12 months. Division II West Alabama may also subject at team and the Alabama Community College Conference simply completed its first season with Wallace State Community College in Hanceville finishing a 20-0 inaugural season with a championship recreation win over Shelton State.
Central’s 38-7 semifinal win at residence over Smiths Station final week was additionally an instance of the sport’s progress, Holt mentioned. “Against Smiths Station there was probably 1,000 to 1,200 people there,” he mentioned “That’s as good as it gets. When we went to Prattville two years ago and last year hosted Auburn, it was big, but Smiths Station brought their band and cheerleaders and we did, too. It was a lot of fun to be a part of. The sport’s in a good spot.”
Holt’s Red Devils can be taking part in Vestavia Hills for the second time in three championship video games after beating the Rebels 25-0 in 2023. The Rebels are using a powerful streak, too, having gained 27 straight after beginning the season 1-1 below new head coach Daniel Davis. Vestavia Hills is No. 6 in the USA Today ballot.
The Class 6A/7A title recreation is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Wednesday, following the 1A/5A championship rematch between defending champ and No. 2 Montgomery Catholic (21-4) and No. 1 Moody (21-3). Wren Moore’s Moody squad is ranked twenty first by USA Today whereas Whitney Toole’s Knights are No. 25.
Central has recorded 16 shutouts this season – and has performed just one full four-quarter recreation because of the AHSAA mercy rule.
“A lot of it is just taking pride in preparation,” Holt mentioned late final week of the Devils’ domination. “Our coaches are dedicated. We just left practice – did some scout team work, a few skill drills, watched film for an hour. You have to have good players, obviously. They take a lot of pride in preparing and have a competitive nature. They go out and are prepared for what’s next, sticking to the game plan and trusting each other.”
Central senior quarterback Mariah Harrison took over from graduated Gerritt Griggs, who earned AL.com’s first Miss Football title final season. Harrison was a member of the AL.com Terrific 20 all-star team as a junior at broad receiver/security and backup quarterback to Griggs.
“She overcame some early season uncertainty in herself,” Holt mentioned. “She became comfortable in what she was asked to do and we always believed in her. She made most of her mistakes in the first couple of games. I think she had 3 interceptions in the first game and has thrown 7 all year. She’s got 96 total touchdowns, if she gets to 100, that will be a good day for us. It’s a tall test for us to get there.”
Holt mentioned Harrison’s numbers are higher than Griggs’ from 2024, regardless of not taking part in into the fourth quarter in so many video games. Top receiver Savannah Sevier’s numbers – 94 catches for 1,545 yards and 41 touchdowns – are higher than former teammate, Terrific 20 choose and Wingate University signee Natalyn Lumpkin from final 12 months. Sophomore broad receiver Savannah Sevier has 94 receptions for 1,545 yards and 41 TDs. Freshman Lauren Carrero leads the protection with 63 flag pulls.
The Red Devils’ coach mentioned he and his squad should not jaded about one other journey to the Super 7.
“It doesn’t get old,” Holt mentioned. “You want to get there for this team. Some have been there for a third time, but the majority of this team hasn’t. You want to experience that. Being part of the Super 7 and the way they handle it is special for the girls.”
Here’s a have a look at Wednesday’s flag football finalists:
FLAG FOOTBALL
SUPER 7 CHAMPIONSHIPS
AT-A-GLANCE
CLASS 1A/5A
MONTGOMERY CATHOLIC KNIGHTS (21-4) vs. MOODY BLUE DEVILS (21-3)
Time: 11 a.m., Wednesday
Path to the Super 7: Montgomery Catholic defeated Loachapoka 40-0, LeFlore 31-0, Tallassee 13-7 and Brewbaker Tech 25-12; Moody defeated Sumter Central 37-0, Westminster Christian 46-0, Northside 41-12 and Boaz 28-14.
AL.com rankings: Montgomery Catholic is No.2 and is No. 25 in the USA Today Top 25 rankings and Moody is No. 1 and ranked twenty first by USA Today.
Coaches: Montgomery Catholic – Whitney Toole (62-17 in 4 seasons); Moody – Wren Moore (38-6 in two seasons)
The skinny: The Knights beat Moody 14-7 final season to win the 1A/5A championship. … Montgomery Catholic completed because the runner-up in 2023, falling 18-12 to Wenonah. … The Knights are using a 16-game profitable streak whereas Moody has gained 13 in a row since a 27-0 loss at Class 6A/7A No. 1 Central-Phenix City on Sept. 30. … The different two losses suffered by the Blue Devils have been additionally to 6A/7A groups – Hewitt-Trussville and Prattville. … All of Catholic’s losses have been additionally to 6A/7A groups – No. 2 Vestavia Hills, No. 1 Central-Phenix City, Albertville and Helena. The Knights’ final loss was on Sept. 13. … Catholic junior QB Hayden Fitts has accomplished 184-of-329 passes for two,355 yards and 43 touchdowns with 16 interceptions. She has 709 yards on the bottom on 96 carries for 13 TDs. Fitts additionally has 82 flag pulls on protection and is second on the team with 11 interceptions. …. Junior Haley Ishman has 93 catches for 1,327 yards and 27 TDs. … Junior Frances Ann Rogers has 51 receptions for 697 yards and 10 touchdowns. She additionally leads the team with 12 interceptions to go together with her 42 flag pulls. … Senior Ellis O’Connor has 63 catches for 655 yards with 8 scores. … Junior LB Addisyn Little leads the Knights with 87 flag pulls. … Eighth grade rusher Za’riyah Thomas has 15 sacks with 35 flag pulls. … Freshman Ireyda Perez-Mendez has 35 pulls and 11 sacks. … Moody doesn’t preserve statistics, however sophomore QB Serenity Rutledge is a standout on each side of the ball. She threw 3 landing passes and ran for an additional in the semifinal win at Boaz. She leads the team in interceptions. Rutledge can also be a Power 4 basketball prospect. … The Blue Devils’ high receivers are sophomore Zoey Terry, freshman Sophie White and senior Abby Gray. … Senior heart Sarah Beth Gill has been excellent snapping the ball this season and is drawing recruiting curiosity from faculties. … Terry and junior Ellie-Kate Williams present stress up entrance for the Moody protection with safeties Rutledge, Gray and White patrolling the secondary with sophomore Cheyenne Moore and senior Kynlie Harvard at cornerback.
CLASS 6A/7A
CENTRAL-PHENIX CITY (19-0) vs. VESTAVIA HILLS REBELS (28-1)
Time: 3 p.m., Wednesday
Path to the Super 7: Central-Phenix City defeated Northridge 52-0, Spanish Fort 39-0, Opelika 56-0 and Smiths Station 38-7; Vestavia Hills defeated Jackson-Olin 46-0, Hewitt-Trussville 32-6, Homewood 31-0 and Spain Park 20-19.
AL.com rankings: Central is No. 1 and is ranked third in the nation by USA Today; Vestavia Hills is No. 2 with a No. 6 rating by USA Today.
Coaches: Central – Mitchell Holt (69-5 in 4 seasons); Vestavia Hills – Daniel Davis (28-1 in one season).
The skinny: The Red Devils are the two-time defending state champion – beating Vestavia 25-0 for his or her first title in 2023 – and has gained 56 video games in a row. … The Rebels opened the season with a win over Class 1A/5A No. 2 Montgomery Catholic then misplaced their second recreation of the season to 1A/5A No. 1 Moody and have gained 27 straight since. … The two groups really met in a tri-match at Phenix City on Aug. 21, however the recreation was referred to as on account of lightning in the primary half. … Central senior QB Mariah Harrison is an all-purpose athlete who plans to play softball at Troy subsequent 12 months. She has accomplished 232-of-358 passes for 3,698 yards and 76 touchdowns. Harrison has been intercepted 7 instances. She has 17 touchdowns on the bottom, operating 76 instances for 594 yards and has caught 4 passes for 58 yards and a couple of extra scores. … The Red Devils have 11 extra passing touchdowns from a pair of backup QBs. … Sophomore WR Savannah Sevier has 94 receptions for 1,545 yards and 41 TDs. She is also second on the team in flag pulls with 57. … Senior Colby Cook has 74 catches for 1,209 yards and 23 touchdowns. She shares the team lead with sophomore Madison Fuller with 8 interceptions. … Freshman Lauren Carrero, who performed center faculty sort out football, leads the Devils with 63 flag pulls. … Vestavia Hills senior QB Julia Rose has thrown for AHSAA data with 6,881 yards and 121 touchdowns this season. She has accomplished 572-of-935 passes (61 p.c) and has been intercepted 16 instances. … Junior Alexis Rubin has hauled in 193 passes for two,078 yards for 53 touchdowns. She additionally holds the AHSAA report with 30 interceptions this season – 11 over the earlier commonplace. … Senior Molly Mac Sharp has caught 114 passes for 1,290 yards and 16 TDs. She has accomplished 18-of-28 passes for 183 yards and seven TDs with an interception and scored 5 TDs on 35 carries for 92 yards. Sharp additionally has 14 interceptions. … Senior Chloe Leahy has 43 receptions for 495 yards and 9 TDs. She additionally has 6 interceptions. … Junior Emma Harper has 80 flag pulls with 12 sacks. … Sophomore Emma Kate Jacobs has 106 pulls with 8 interceptions. …Senior Kate Fitzpatrick has 114 flag pulls with 4 INT.