Central-Phenix City girls’ flag football team ranked No. 1 in the country by USA Today
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Central-Phenix City’s flag football team is focused on defending its state championship in Birmingham later this year but that doesn’t stop the team from enjoying some national recognition along the way.
According to the latest USA Today Sports Super 25 Girls Flag Football Rankings, the Red Devils are the top team in the entire country. Central has taken the No. 1 ranking in the last two polls.
“The recognition has been nice. It’s pretty cool for a relatively small town to get that type of attention nationally. Especially with Alabama being only in their first sanctioned season of flag football and fourth overall season. It shines a spotlight on our state in general.”
~ Mitchell Holt, Central-Phenix City flag football coach
Keep reading to learn more about the rankings including what other Alabama teams made the top 25 + check out where you can watch Central’s team play the rest of this season.
USA Today Top 25
Earlier this year, coach Mitchell Holt said he got a text from a local reporter letting him know his team was nationally ranked. At the time, Holt said he didn’t even know they were doing a poll.
The poll is ranked by a panel of USA TODAY Network writers, in coordination with data provided by the NFHS Network, from seven of the 12 sanctioned states that offer varsity girls high school flag football. This season’s poll will include teams from Alabama, Alaska, Arizona California, Colorado, Georgia, and Illinois.
“It shines a positive light on a great group of kids that do everything the right way in the classroom and in the community who happen to be very gifted athletically.”
~ Mitchell Holt, Central-Phenix City flag football coach
Central debuted at #5 in the poll after starting the season with five straight wins. Now, five wins later, the Red Devils are at the top of the list and they are joined by other Alabama teams including:
- Vestavia Hills—#13
- Prattville—#20
- Daphne—#21
Wenonah was ranked #25 in the first poll of the season but has since dropped out of the rankings.
This is the first season for sanctioned flag football in Alabama and fourth overall championship season. Read more about the growth of the sport in our state.
Central-Phenix City Red Devils
Central is now 11-0 this year with three games remaining in the regular season including two region games. The Red Devils know they are a top target for their opponents after winning the 2023 state title but the national recognition could bring even more pressure.
Holt isn’t worried.
“They stay pretty level-headed. They get excited, they’ll post it and things like that but it hasn’t really changed how they go about their business. With those high expectations and those recognitions, it makes the target on our back even bigger.”
~ Mitchell Holt, Central-Phenix City flag football coach
The team is led by a group of seniors who have played together for multiple years but Holt said the team is growing with more and more students wanting to get involved. The roster includes
- Shabreia Brannon
- Summer Gilley
- Gerritt Griggs
- Janiyah Garrett
- Natalyn Lumpkin
- Allyson Supan
- Dane Ferguson
- Lilly Bell
- Kamouri Johnson
- Danajia Thomas
- Colby Cook
- Savannah Sevier
- Mariah Harrison
- Addy Gessner
- Ari Shorter
- Kate Powell
- Majesty James
- Kalea Lovejoy
- Khloe Broadwater
- Ashlyn Nixon
- Kinsey Carlisle
The Red Devils will be wrapping up the regular season next Tuesday before the playoffs begin. The flag football state championship will be played at Protective Stadium along with the rest of the Super 7 games in December.
Will you head out to watch a girls’ flag football game this fall? Let us know by tagging The Bama Buzz on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn.
