New sport is off to a fun and physical start

By Steve Williams

Girls’ flag football can be literally fast and furious.

In a game on Nov. 18, a foul was not called, but a player on one team intentionally bumped an opponent after a play and tempers flared for a few seconds.

It did not escalate, but the incident showed that the new TSSAA sport of girls’ flag football could be a physical one – just like the boys’ game.

Austin-East, Carter and Fulton were the teams playing that night at Carter.

The host Lady Hornets stung Austin-East 46-12 in the first game and Fulton handed A-E a 26-6 loss in Game 2. That set up a showdown in the finale between Carter and Fulton, who have proven to be two of the top local teams after the first two weeks of play. The Lady Falcons won that matchup 40-19.

Flag football this season is an “emerging sport” in TSSAA. Thirteen teams from Knox County plus Anderson County High are playing five consecutive weeks on Monday nights through Dec. 9, with a possible tournament after that to be held. When the sport starts for real in 2025-26, it will be played in the spring.

Comparing girls’ flag football to boys’ football, Carter Coach Dustin Dudley said: “We’ve run some of the same passing combinations that our high school (football team) runs. What’s really helpful is these girls are just very coachable.

“They want to be out here. They’re having fun. They’re flying around. They love coming to practice and they love getting to play these games.”

A college coach from King University (D2) was at the games recruiting last week. He’ll probably be back often, too.

“It’s another avenue for girls to get to college to play at the next level,” said Coach Dudley. “And we’re trying to get them there.”

Currently, colleges at the Division 2 level and lower have flag football teams. Milligan is a NAIA school that has a team.

To help fans get acquainted with the new sport, the field is 80 yards long and 35 to 40 yards wide. The goal lines are at the 10-yard lines.

There are no kickoffs and a team starts on offense at the 24-yard line. Teams can get a first down at the 30, 50 and 30-yard lines. For a punt, the ball is advanced 30 yards.

It’s 7 on 7 with two 20-minute halves. Three referees officiate and a KOC representative is on duty.

Experts on flag football say the best way to gain yardage is through the air.

Carter senior Bailey Stout stood out as a wide receiver in last week’s action. She really likes the sport.

“It’s new. It’s fun,” said Stout. “We have a good team and our quarterback (senior Gabby Stinnett) has a cannon (arm). She’s had a cannon her whole life and we’ve got her out here slinging a football.

“It’s just been so fun so far.”

Fulton Coach Trey Sewell said his team didn’t have a field with yard lines to practice on before its first game and the Lady Falcons lost to Halls on Nov. 11. They haven’t lost since and are 3-1.

“We had scrimmaged Carter in the preseason, so we knew they had a pretty dynamic and complex offense,” said Sewell. “We just decided to man up on them.”

Getting some practice on a field with yard lines “made a huge difference in setting up on offense and defense,” added Sewell, whose team pulled away from a 13-13 tie with Carter.

Sewell, who also is an assistant basketball coach, said he just found out about flag football about a month ago.

“I’m getting a lot more fired up (about the sport) than I thought I would,” he said. “When Zion Thompson had that interception return for a touchdown, I was getting pretty fired up. I had my watch on and my heart rate got up to like 115.”

Just a sophomore, Thompson added another long TD run and Sincere Minor caught a two-point pass to extend Fulton’s lead to 40-13.

Coach Sewell said that Dee Williams is his most dynamic athlete on the field. The 5-10 senior plays safety, wide receiver and also can run with the ball from the quarterback position.

“I just like the rush of the game, how fast it is,” she said. “I get a good adrenalin rush.

“I love the people I’m playing with and I hope they keep going with the sport,” she added. “I wished they had started (this sport) a little earlier. I would have been in the running for Miss Football.”

“She does it all, said Sewell. “Offense, defense. If we punted, she’d probably be our punter.”

HS Flag Football Schedule

Week 3

November 25

At Halls

5 – Halls vs. Central

6 – Central vs. Austin-East

7 – Halls vs. Austin-East

At Bearden

5 – Bearden vs. South-Doyle

6 – South-Doyle vs Anderson Co.

7 – Bearden vs. Anderson Co.

At Fulton

5 – Fulton vs. Karns

6 – Karns vs. CMA

7 – Fulton vs. CMA

At Powell

6 – Powell vs. Gibbs

7 – Gibbs vs. Farragut

8 – Powell vs. Farragut

At West

5 – West vs. Hardin Valley

6 – Hardin Valley vs. Carter

7 – West vs. Carter