MONTGOMERY – Prattville High School quarterback Kaytie Chandler opened the 2024 AHSAA flag football season in style completing 45-of-81 passes for 679 yards and 10 touchdowns in five games. The Lions (4-1) beat Brookwood 26-0, John Carroll Catholic 14-6, Hewitt-Trussville 30-0 and Montgomery Catholic 12-0 and lost by one point to Moody 14-13. She also had has rushed for two scores. For her effort, Chandler is the in the first AHSAA Flag Football Spotlight of the season – and in the history of the AHSAA. Flag football was introduced as an emerging sport in 2021 and officially became an AHSAA championship sport this season.
     Chandler had plenty of help from her teammates. Lanieya Page has 20 catches for 310 yards and eight TDs, Cadence Forrester has six catches for 120 yards and three scores, and Hartley McCay has two rushing touchdowns through five games. McCay leads the defense with 16 tackles and an interception while Page has 14 tackles and 2 interceptions, one for a touchdown. London Williams has 11 tackles and 2 interceptions.
     The Lions QB’s consistent success edged out another strong quarterbacking performance by Alma Bryant High School quarterback Mari-Margret Grayson. She was 12-of-19 passing for 200 yards and seven touchdowns and also rushed 10 times for 84 yards and three TDs in wins over Foley (39-6) and Elberta (64-0). Teammates Addee Huddleston and Alyssa Mose also had big contributions. Huddleston caught a TD pass, ran for another score, and returned a punt for a third TD. Mose led the defense with seven sacks and three addition flag pulls.
     Grayson also intercepted two passes returning them both for TDs in a 27-13 win over Spanish Fort for the Hurricanes (3-0) in the season opener. She finished with six flag pulls on defense and was 8-of-12 passing for 63 yards and rushed for 57 yards and a third TD.
     Other top performances reported for the first AHSAA Spotlight include:

PASSING/RUSHING LEADERS
MYA CRAWFORD, B.C. RAIN: Was 15-of-20 passing for 275 yards and four TDs and rushed for 40 yards and another TD in a 32-0 win over Baker.
JULIA ROSE, VESTAVIA HILLS: Led Lady Rebels (6-0) to three wins beating Homewood (44-6), Smiths Station (38-6) and Opelika (33-12). The junior quarterback  was 17-of-27 passing for 262 yards and five touchdowns in the win over the Patriots. Layne Turner had six catches for 67 yards and one TD, Alex Rubin added four catches for 88 yards and a TD, and sophomore Callie Davis caught three passes for 48 yards and two scores.
AUBREY GREGG, DAPHNE: The junior quarterback led the Trojans (2-0) to a 33-12 win over Mary Montgomery and 46-6 win over Theodore. She was 13-of-16 passing for 219 yards and four TDs in the win over the Vikings, and she completed 14 passes for 204 yards and four TDs in the win over Theodore.
GERRITT GRIGGS, CENTRAL-PHENIX CITY: Led the Red Devils, last year’s Class 6A/7A state tourney champions,  to two wins last week completing 8-of-11 passes for 210 yards and four touchdowns in a 52-0 win over Montgomery Catholic. Central also beat Hewitt-Trussville 34-6. Receiver Natalie Lumpkin had five receptions for 124 yards and TDs, and Savannah Sevier pulled down two catches for 74 yards and two TDs.
BESS WHITTEN, HOMEWOOD: Was 18-of-32 passing for 209 yards and two TDs in three games.
CHLOE ST. JOHN, PELL CITY: Was 12-of-20 passing for 143 yards and a TD in a 14-7 loss to Homewood. She fired a 55-yard pass to Kensley Evans for the Panthers’ only score.
CAMPBELL IRMSCHER, GRISSOM: Led the Tigers to a 31-0 win over Mae Jemison and 6-0 win over Hazlewood Greem with two rushing touchdowns and a passing TD.
BASIA CZARKOWSKA, SPANISH FORT: Totaled 143 yards rushing in four games for the Toros.
EMMA JAYNE, DOTHAN: Fired three TD passes in the Wolves’ season-opening 18-0 win over Northside Methodist and was 7-of-8 passing for one TD in a 32-0 win over Carroll.

PASS RECEIVING LEADERS
MIKERIAH LALAND, B.C. RAIN: The senior receiver snagged four passes for 150 yards and two TDs in a 32-0 win over Baker.
ABBY JOHNSON, DAPHNE: Had four catches for 101 yards and two TDs in a 33-12 win over Mary Montgomery and nine receptions for 121 yards and two TDs in a 46-6 win over Theodore. She also made two interceptions on defense.
LAUREN YU, DOTHAN: Showed her versatility passing for a touchdown, rushing for another score, and hauling down a pass for a third TD as Dothan (2-0) beat Carroll 32-0. The Wolves (2-0) also downed Northside Methodist 18-0.
KLOEANNE SMITH, HOMEWOOD: Had 11 catches for 149 yards and two scores in three games for Homewood. Teammate Leisel Kellen added 12 receptions for 115 yards and one TD.

DEFENSE
LIZZIE TURNER, SPANISH FORT: Had 33 flag pulls, and  teammate Ambria Snell had 21 as Spanish Fort went 2-2 in four flag football games. The Toros beat Elberta 27-0, lost to McGill-Toolen Catholic 7-0, and split a pair of games with Alma Bryant losing 27-13 in the first game and winning 13-0 in the second contest.
KIARRA McPHERSON, B.C. RAIN: Had two interceptions  on defense and five receptions on offense in a 32-0 win over Baker.
ISA WILLEY, VESTAVIA HILLS: Had two interceptions and teammate Holland Abernathy also had two picks in the Rebels’ 44-6 win over Homewood.
PADYN PEARSON, WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN: Returned an interception for a TD in a win over Hazel Green.
IMANI ELLIOTT, HOMEWOOD:  Managed  12 flag pulls, including two for lost yardage, and teammates Audrey Major and Allie Stuman swiped two interceptions each in three games. Major also had 11 pulls.
ANNA GRACE BULL, NORTHSIDE METHODIST: Had two interceptions in a 19-7 win over Carroll.