Lady Pirates flag football team starts season strong

The Lady Pirates flag football team started their second season ever strong during their first two home games of the season. In just its second year, the team grew to 32 girls with 17 of them freshmen. This year, there is a JV as well as a varsity team.

“This year’s team is young but they don’t play like a young team. The returning players are playing at a higher level than last year, which has pushed the younger kids to step it up,” said coach Kevin Hobbs. “Usually, you must work out some kinks during the first game. This year, our girls came out and played like we are in week eight of the season. They beat a strong Elite Scholars Academy 19-6 in the first game and 13-6 in the next. We were missing nine girls due to their softball and volleyball commitments but still managed to hold our own.” 

This year, the team changed regions and they must now play in the Fayette, Coweta and Spalding region.

“We are by far the smallest school in the region and one of if not the smallest in our division. Coming out to a flag football game is exciting and different. The games are shorter and there are typically 2-3 games a night. You can expect lots of misdirection, multiple handoffs and multiple QBs on the field at the same time. Since every girl on the field is an eligible receiver, the plays can get creative,” said coach Hobbs. “Come out and support these girls this season as they try to improve from last season’s record of 9-4.”

Seniors on the Pike County High School flag football team include #6 Marissa Hanson, #11 Addison Johnson, #14 Avery Maddock, #1 McKenzie Malcolm, #5 Bailey Morris and #13 Emma Truitt; juniors include #2 Morgan Boynton, #23 Ana Harris, #21 Molly Perdue, #10 Elle Smith and #3 Adisen Strickland; sophomores include #12 Danica Evans, #1 Caroline Moore, #9 Madden Plouffe and #12 Kinslee Rape; freshmen include #22 Aubree Blessitt, #5 Rylin Cleven, #4 Bailey Cochran, #11 Kiersten Cox, #26 McKinlee Follett, #00 Maliyah Holmes, #2 Julianna Kersey, #16 Gracee King, #14 Ashlyn Maddock, #15 Keagan Miller, #9 Sophie Moss, #18 Addison Norris, #8 Presli Readdy, #7 Lila Reeves, #6 Mikayla Sealy, #0 Abigal Strange and #15 Morgan Wakeman. The head coach is Kevin Hobbs. Assistant coaches include Denise Lawrence, Jennifer Adams and Justin O’Steen and team manager Max McBrayer.

The Lady Pirates football team returned to action Tuesday, Oct. 17 at home with games at 4 and 5:15 p.m., after the Journal Reporter’s press deadline.

The Lady Pirates will play their next several games on the road, including against Mary Persons Thursday, Oct. 19, in the Survivors Tournament at Osborne High School on Saturday, Oct. 21 and against Spalding Thursday, Oct. 26.

The next home game will the at 5:30 (JV) and 7:30 p.m. against Trinity Christian on Tuesday, Nov. 7.