Montgomery Catholic Secures 14-7 Win Over Moody to Claim AHSAA 1A/5A Flag Football Title

BIRMINGHAM, AL – Montgomery Catholic High School’s flag football team made history Wednesday with an impressive 14-7 victory over Moody in the AHSAA Super 7 Class 1A/5A Flag Football State Championship at Protective Stadium.

The championship marked a milestone for the program, which has evolved rapidly since its introduction as an emerging sport by the AHSAA in 2021. That inaugural year, Hewitt-Trussville secured the title in a dramatic overtime win over Smiths Station. Catholic made it to the finals in 2022 but fell short, losing 18-13 in overtime to Wenonah. This year, however, the Lady Knights (17-4), led by Head Coach Whitney Toole, finished strong with standout plays from quarterback Hayden Fitts and receiver Lily Abbott.

“Last year’s loss was tough, but it was a turning point for us,” said Coach Toole. “The day after that game, our team was asking, ‘What can we do differently? How can we get better?’ They dedicated themselves all summer and fall, and no one deserves this championship more than they do.”

Moody Strikes First, But Catholic Responds

Moody’s Blue Devils (17-3), coached by Wren Moore, opened the scoring midway through the first half. Quarterback Emma Kile delivered a 56-yard touchdown pass to Sophie White, followed by Kile scoring the extra point to give Moody a 7-0 lead.

Catholic equalized before halftime when Fitts connected with Abbott for an 11-yard touchdown pass. Fitts then secured the extra point, tying the score at 7-7 heading into the break.

Catholic Seals the Win Late

After tense defensive battles throughout the second half, Catholic broke the deadlock with 4:02 remaining. Fitts once again found Abbott, this time for a 20-yard touchdown pass. Fitts added the extra point to put Catholic ahead 14-7, a scoreline they would successfully defend until the final whistle.

Defense Shines for Both Teams

Catholic’s defense, anchored by senior Jamie McGuire, held Moody to -28 rushing yards on 17 attempts. McGuire delivered a stellar performance with nine flag pulls, including six tackles for loss and four sacks.

Moody’s defense also made its mark. Kile recorded four flag pulls, and the Blue Devils limited Catholic to zero rushing yards on seven attempts. Kile led Moody’s offense with 164 passing yards on 14-of-29 completions, including one touchdown and one interception. Her top targets included Kennedy Hockman (6 catches for 32 yards), Zoey Terry (3 catches for 38 yards), and Serenity Rutledge (3 catches for 33 yards).

Fitts completed 11-of-25 passes for 100 yards, throwing two touchdown passes but also two interceptions. Abbott led Catholic’s receiving corps with 3 catches for 49 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Avery Sadler added 4 receptions for 21 yards.

Postgame Reactions

“I woke up this morning with so much joy for our team,” said Moody Coach Wren Moore. “I told them that no matter the outcome, I’m incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication. They started practicing just two weeks before the first game, and the progress they’ve made is incredible. The standard for flag football at Moody has changed for the better.”

Coach Toole echoed the sentiment, praising Catholic’s commitment to improvement following last year’s championship loss. “This team has earned it. Their hard work and resilience made this moment possible,” Toole said.

Class 6A/7A Flag Championship and Boys’ Games to Follow

Later in the day, the Class 6A/7A Flag Football Championship between Central-Phenix City, ranked No. 1 nationally, and Spain Park, ranked No. 19, was scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. The boys’ football state finals begin later that evening at 7 p.m., with a rematch between Central-Phenix City and Thompson from last year’s championship, where Central edged out Thompson 20-19.

Montgomery Catholic’s triumph adds a new chapter to the rapidly growing sport of flag football in Alabama, solidifying their place in AHSAA history.