Central-Phenix City Girls Top USA Today National High School Flag Football Rankings

October 11, 2024

BIRMINGHAM, AL – Central-Phenix City High School’s flag football team has achieved a remarkable milestone by securing the No. 1 spot in USA Today’s national rankings, released this past Thursday morning.

The Lady Red Devils, boasting an impressive 8-0 record, have dominated their recent games, defeating Smiths Station 49-0 and Park Crossing 55-0. The team’s offense now averages 46.5 points per game, making them the top-ranked girls’ flag football team in the nation. This accomplishment has also earned Coach Mitchell Holt’s team this week’s AHSAA Flag Football Spotlight.

Joining Central-Phenix City in the USA Today’s Top 25 are three other AHSAA schools. Vestavia Hills (13-1) ranks at No. 13, Prattville (7-2) holds the No. 20 spot, and Daphne (8-0) is at No. 23. The recognition reflects the dedication of these schools to excel in this rapidly growing sport.

Central’s offensive powerhouse is led by quarterback Gerritt Griggs, who has outscored their opponents 372-12 with the defense allowing just 1.5 points per game. In their victory over Park Crossing, Griggs threw five touchdown passes, completing 13-of-16 passes for 244 yards, and added 16 rushing yards. Mariah Harrison contributed with five catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns, while Savannah Sevier caught four passes for 77 yards and two scores. Natalyn Lumpkin also had three receptions for 80 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, Colby Cook led with four flag pulls and two interceptions, and Ally Supan had three flag pulls.

Central, along with Prattville and Vestavia Hills, was featured in USA Today’s inaugural National Top 25 in September. The Lady Red Devils have consistently climbed the rankings, moving from No. 5 to No. 1 in recent polls.

Tommy Deas, the sports editor for USA Today’s Alabama newspapers, highlighted the effort put forth by prep writers to ensure AHSAA flag football teams received national attention. This marks the first year that USA Today has conducted a national poll for girls’ flag football.

The growth of girls’ high school flag football is rapidly expanding across the nation. AHSAA member schools have been pioneers in adopting the sport, now in its fourth season with an official state championship. The AHSAA flag teams compete in two divisions, Class 6A-7A and Class 1A-5A, with Central and Wenonah High School from Birmingham winning last year’s state tournament titles.

This November, teams will enter playoff brackets culminating in championship games scheduled for December 4th at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.

Other flag football highlights reported this week include:

RUSHING

JAZMIN DENNISON, RUSSELL COUNTY: Rushed for 68 yards and had 15 receiving yards with 2 TDs in a 64-0 victory over JAG and had 132 yards and another TD in as 48-0 victory over JAG.
KIARRA McPHERSON, B.C. RAIN: Had seven rush attempts for 36 yards, caught four passes for 52 yards and as touchdown, was 2-of-3 passing for 26 yards and a TD, and had five flag pulls and an interception she returned for a score on defense as B.C. Rain (4-2) beat Satsuma 49-0. McPherson caught two passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns and had two interceptions running back one for another TD, in a 58-2 win over Elberta in Class 1A/5A.
LIESEL KELLEN, HOMEWOOD: Accounted for four touchdowns in a 28-0 victory over Pinson Valley. She ran for a 53-yard touchdown, passed for three scores and a PAT, and also caught five passes while playing receiver.

PASSING

KENNEDI ELLIS, RUSSELL COUNTY: The quarterback was 11-of-14 passing for 210 yards and four touchdowns and rushed 16 times for 172 yards and two touchdowns in a 64-0 win over Percy Julian in Class 6A/7A. She finished with 372 total yards. In a 48-0 win over JAG, she was 11-of-14 passing for 183 yards and two TDs.
in a 48-0 win over JAG.
JULIA ROSE, VESTAVIA HILLS: Completed 16-of-27 passes for 266 yards and all four touchdowns in the Rebels’ 27-6 win over Spain Park in Class 6A/7A. She averaged 16.6 yards per completion.
KAYTIE CHANDLER, PRATTVILLE: The Lions’ quarterback fired three touchdown passes and finished 12-of-17 for 170 yards as the Lions (7-2) beat Oak Mountain 20-0 in a game played at Marbury High School. The improved Prattville to 3-0 in Class 6A/7A, Region 2. Vestavia Hills is 3-1. Her TD passes were completed to Cadence Forrester, Avery Patterson, and Lanieya Page.
MARI-MAGRET GRAYSON, ALMA BRYANT: Led the Hurricanes (6-0) to a 40-0 win over Mary Montgomery in Class 6A/7A, Region 1 with a 9-of-15 passing performance for 147 yards and four touchdowns. Teammate Jaden Croom had a running and receiving touchdown.
BESS WHITTEN, HOMEWOOD: Was 8-of-10 passing for 133 yards and three touchdowns in Homewood’s 19-6 win over Ramsay. Her longest pass was a 64-yard scoring toss to Layla Balta.
MYA CRAWFORD, B.C. RAIN: Was 10-of-14 passing for 113 yards and two TDs, and she also caught a 16-yard pass for a touchdown as B.C. Rain beat Satsuma 49-0 in Class 1A/5A. Crawford was 15-of-19 passing for 211 yards and four TDs, adding two rushing touchdowns totaling 23 yards in a 58-2 victory over Elberta.
MYAH MOTTON, AUSTIN: Completed 14-of-20 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown as the Black Bears (5-1) nipped city rival Decatur 6-0.
GABBY LINDSEY, OXFORD: Was 8-of-13 passing for 107 years and a touchdown and added a 3-yard rushing TD in the Lady Jackets’ 27-0 Class 6A/7A win over Huffman. Teammate Charleigh Trotter was 3-of-5 passing for 57 yards.

RECEIVING

ALEXIS RUBIN, VESTAVIA HILLS: The Rebels’ leading receiver caught six passes for 140 yards, and teammate Callie Davis pulled down four receptions for 52 yards in a 27-6 win over Spain Park in Class 6A/7A, Region 5.
KLOEANNE SMITH, HOMEWOOD: Scored four touchdowns in two wins for the Patriots (7-3). Homewood beat Ramsay 19-6 and Pinson Valley 28-0. Smith had two catches for 47 yards and two TDs in the Ramsay win, and she had five receptions and two TDs in the victory over Pinson Valley. She also scored one PAT.
KYLEE STEPHENS, OXFORD: Had seven catches for 63 yards and a touchdown, and teammate Tymeria Smith-Lindsey had eight carries for 43 yards and a TD as Oxford beat Huffman 27-0.
SHAYLA ELLIS, RUSSELL COUNTY: Snagged seven passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns, and teammate Breeonna Barnes had four catches for 110 yards and two TDs in a 64-0 win over Percy Julian.
DESTINY ACKLIN, AUSTIN: Had six catches for 22 yards, Jada Billings had four catches for 21 yards, and Chassidy Verser had four catches for 20 yards and the game’s only touchdown in a 6-0 win over Decatur. Billings also had six flag pulls and three sacks on defense.

DEFENSE

KIERIANA DONALD, B.C. RAIN: Led her team to a 49-0 victory over Satsuma in Class 1A/5A with three interceptions and five flag pulls on defense. She returned on of her picks for a touchdown. In B.C. Rain’s win over Elberta, she had seven pulls, and an interception return for a touchdown.
NEUBIAN BROWN, RUSSELL COUNTY: Had five sacks and teammate Mckenzie Word had 2 flag pulls and two interceptions, returning one for a score, in a 64-0 win over Percy Julian. She had seven sacks in the win over JAG.
LONDON WILLIAMS, PRATTVILLE: Had two interceptions and Lions’ teammate Emma Moore had a sack as Prattville downed Oak Mountain 20-0.
SKYLAR BROOKS, OXFORD: Totaled five flag pulls and a 43-yard interception return for a TD in a 27-0 win over Huffman.
MORGAN FELTON, HOMEWOOD: Recorded six flag pulls, three for a loss, to lead the Patriots’ defense in a 19-6 win over Ramsay. She also had five stops and two sacks in the 28-0 victory over Pinson Valley. Teammates Emma Clair Wells and Taylor Powe contributed five flag pulls and an interception, respectively.
MOLLY MAC SHARP, VESTAVIA HILLS: Totaled seven pulls, and Chloe Leahy had six pulls on defense and two receptions on offense as the Rebels beat Spain Park 27-6.
TYESHIA HODGES, AUSTIN: Managed five flag pulls on defense as Austin defeated Decatur 6-0 in Class 6A/7A.

SPECIAL TEAMS
MIKERIAH LALAND, B.C. RAIN: Returned two punts 51 and 63 yards for touchdowns in B.C. Rain’s 49-0 victory over Satsuma. She also had a 15-yard pass reception for a third TD and rushed for 31 yards on six carries.

USA TODAY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
FLAG FOOTBALL RANKINGS
(RELEASED Oct. 10)
1. Central (Phenix City, Ala.)
2. Pope (Marietta, Ga.)
3. South Anchorage (Alaska)
4. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
5. Orange Lutheran (Calif.)
6. Mountain View (Mesa, Ariz.)
7. Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
8. Guilford (Rockford, Ill.)
9. Saint Joseph (Lakewood, Calif.)
10. Southeast Bulloch (Brooklet, Ga.)
11. Maine South (Park Ridge, Ill.)
12. Classical Academy (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
13. Vestavia Hills (Ala.)
14. McClatchy (Sacramento, Calif.)
15. Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.)
16. Newport Harbor (Newport Beach, Calif.)
17. Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.)
18. Taft (Chicago, Ill.)
19. Perspectives Leadership (Chicago, Ill.)
20. Prattville (Ala.)
21. Marana (Tucson, Ariz.)
22. West Anchorage (Alaska)
23. Daphne (Ala.)
24. Ponderosa (Shingle Springs, Calif.)
25. Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)