AHSAA Flag Football Spotlight

     MONTGOMERY – Wenonah High School’s Lady Dragons flag football team has been participating in the sport since it was introduced to AHSAA Schools in 2021. And senior Samarian Franklin has been their quarterback from the get-go.
     The multi-talented student-athlete has been a fire-breathing Dragon this season accounting for more  than 60 touchdowns for Wenonah, coached by Cedric Lane. The Dragons are 16-1 after avenging their only loss this season with a 14-7 win over Moody last Saturday.   Their dominating play earned Wenonah this week’s AHSAA Flag Football Spotlight.
    “Samarian Franklin is an incredible player,” said Lane. “She is a natural leader who has been our quarterback from the beginning. We have gone 69-5 in her four years at Wenonah.”
     Wenonah won the 1A/5A flag state tournament championship last year at Bryant-Denny Stadium beating Montgomery Catholic in the finals. Lane’s team had won 30 games in a row until the 25-19 loss to Moody in September.
     Franklin has been a strong runner and passer for Wenonah, which tuned up for last season’s state finals by winning a basketball game the night before.
     Her supporting cast is outstanding, said Lane.  Zariah Evans has 44 receptions this season and 13 TDs. Makyla Williams has been another prime target in the passing attack with 20 TD receptions this season, and on defense she has 28 sacks, said Lang.  Jaylin Jackson also leads the defense with 64 flag pulls.
    The Dragons, currently 17-1, were 18-0 last season, 17-1 in 2022 and 17-3 in 2021.
    Other flag football superlatives reported from last week’s action include:

PASSING/RUSHING
JULIA ROSE, VESTAVIA HILLS: Was 19-of-34 passing for 208 yards and three touchdowns in the Rebels’ 28-8 win over Hoover in Class 6A/7A. She was also 10-of-14 for 163 yards and five touchdowns in Vestavia Hills’ 32-0 win over Fairfield. Vestavia is ranked 13^th in the USA Today national flag rankings.
GERRITT GRIGGS, CENTRAL-PHENIX CITY: Was 14-of-17 passing for 164 yards and six touchdowns in a 55-0 win over Park Crossing last week for the Red Devils (8-0), currently ranked No. 1 in the nation in the USA Today national flag football rankings.
AUBREY GREGG, DAPHNE: Led the Trojans (7-0) to a 21-6 win over Spanish Fort and 28-6 victory over Robertsdale. She was 8-of-13 passing for 141 yards and two TDs versus the Toros and 6-of-10 for 139 yards and four score in the win over the Golden Bears.
TYJA JACKSON, HUNTSVILLE: The Panthers’ quarterback was 8-of-15 passing for 100 yards and had one rushing TD as Huntsville (3-3)beat Hazel Green 12-0 in Class 6A/7A.
KAYTIE CHANDLER, PRATTVILLE: Fired three TD passes in a 39-7 win over Helena and tossed five touchdown passes in a 34-6 victory over Smiths Station for Prattville (9-2), ranked 20^th in the USA Today national rankings.
LEISEL KELLEN, HOMEWOOD: Passed for 85 yards, rushed for 26 yards and had 22 pass receiving yards to account for three touchdowns as the Patriots (8-3) downed Mountain Brook 28-0.
KRISTYN RASPBERRY, MINOR: Had a 70-yard touchdown run in a 21-19 win over Jackson. Minor (4-3) also best Parker 38-0 and lost to Hueytown 20-0.
CHLOE ST. JOHN, PELL CITY: Was 9-of-17 passing for 89 yards and a touchdown to lead the Panthers (2-7) to a 13-0 win over Huffman.
ALEXIS LEWIS, WILCOX CENTRAL: Had 110 yards rushing and a TD, passed for 65 yards and another touchdown, and collected 50 pass receiving yards as Wilcox Central (2-3) beat Ellwood Christian 20-6 and lost to Montgomery Catholic 33-0.
TAMIA McMILLIAN, WILCOX CENTRAL: Passed for 85 yards and a TD, had 65 yards pass receiving and another score and rushed for 45 yards in a 20-6 win over Elwood Christian.

PASS RECEIVING

LaNIYA PAGE, PRATVILLE: Caught three TD passes in a 39-7 win over Helena and had three TD receptions and an interception in the Lions’ 34-6 victory over Smiths Station.
ALEXIS RUBIN, VESTAVIA HILLS: Collected six pass receptions for 126 yards and one TD in a 28-8 victory over Hoover.
SAVANNAH SEVIER, CENTRAL-PHENIX CITY: Grabbed for five receptions for 71 yards and two TDs and teammate Summer Gilley snared two TD passes in Central’s 55-0 win over Park Crossing.
AMIA CUNNINGHAM, HUNTSVILLE: Grabbed three receptions for 70 yards and scored a rushing touchdown in the Panthers’ 12-0 win over Hazel Green in 6A/7A.
NATYLYN LUMPKIN, CENTRAL-PHENIX CITY: Led the Red Devils with five catches for 63 yards and four touchdowns in Central’s 55-0 victory over Park Crossing in Class 5A/6A.
ABBY JOHNSON, DAPHNE: Totaled five catches for 62 yards and one  TD in Trojans’ win over Spanish Fort and four receptions for 75 yards and three TDs in the win over Robertsdale.
CHLOE LEAHY, VESTAVIA HILLS: Had five catches for 27 yards in the  Rebels’ 28-8 win over Hoover and caught three passes for 58 yards and two scores in the 32-0 triumph over Fairfield.
AVERY PATTON, NORTHSIDE: Had two receptions on offense, two interceptions on defense in a 41-0 win over Hale County and had three catches for 60 yards and a TD in a 26-6 win over Greensboro. She also had five flag pulls on defense.
KLOEANNE SMITH, HOMEWOOD: Caught five passes for 71 yards with a touchdown and PAT in the Patriots’ 28-0 win over Mountain Brook.

DEENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
BRAYDEN BILLINGS, NORTHSIDE: Had eight flag pulls and a sack on defense in a 26-6 Class 1A/5A win over Greensboro. She also had a big game on offense with a passing touchdown and six receptions for 71 yards. She had  six receptions in a 41-0 win over Hale County as well.
COURTNEY BATTLE, HUNTSVILLE: Led the Panthers (3-3) on defense with two interceptions and a flag pull as Huntsville shut out Hazel Green 12-0.
MOLLY MITCHELL, VESTAVIA HILLS: Had six flag pulls and a sack to lead the Rebels’ defense in its 28-8 win over Hoover. She also had seven stops in a 32-0 shutout win over Fairfield for Vestavia, currently ranked 13^th in the nation in  the USA Today national flag football poll.
EMILY SPOONER, VESTAVIA HILLS: Managed a total of seven flag pulls and three sacks in two Vestavia wins over Hoover and Fairfield. She also rushed for a touchdown in the Hoover victory and had 41 yards rushing in the win over Fairfield.
KAMOURI JOHNSON, CENTRAL-PHENIX CITY: Had five flag pulls in a 55-0 win over Park Crossing.
SHABREIA BRANNON, CENTRAL-PHENIX CITY: Swiped two interceptions in the Red Devils’ 55-0 victory over Park Crossing.
HARTLEY McCAY, PRATTVILLE: Had two interceptions in a 39-7 win over Helena and rushed for 65 yards in the Lions’ win over Smiths Station.
ALLIE GREGG, DAPHNE: Had  five flag pulls in Daphne’s triumph over Spanish Fort and an interception versus Robertsdale in two wins.
ISLA ALEXANDER, PELL CITY: Had five flag pulls to lead the Panthers’ defense in a 13-0 shutout win over Huffman.