Varsity flag football quarterback Taylor Sims, then a junior, runs during the game against South Gwinnett High School on Oct. 18, 2022. Varsity flag football head coach Cherrelle Pass felt confident going into the game against Greene County High School on Oct. 24. due to the improvement in the team’s commitment this season. “The difference (is) the bodies we have this year. We have people who was willing to go toe to toe and go the distance,” Pass said. Photo by Lucas Donnelly
The varsity flag football team took home their first regional win of the 2023 season in their home game against Greene County High School on Oct. 24 at 5 p.m.
The Clarke Central High School varsity flag football team continued their two-game win streak against regional opponent Greene County High School on Oct. 24 with a final score of 53-0.
The game started quickly, with varsity flag football quarterback Genesis Wallace, a junior, scoring the first touchdown of the game within the first five minutes.
“(The team was) trying to score, trying to put points on the board and once they saw that they did, especially as fast as they did, I think that took some pressure off,” varsity flag football head coach Cherrelle Pass said. “The game is a matter of points and inches and because we scored first, I think we keep pushing (and) keep persevering.”
“The game is a matter of points and inches and because we scored first, I think we keep pushing (and) keep persevering.”
— Cherrelle Pass,
CCHS varsity flag football head coach
Despite their strong start, Pass felt the team started losing their focus as the Gladiators almost let GCHS score a touchdown. However, varsity flag football safety Kd Mcarthur, a freshman, quickly refocused and stopped the play by pulling the GCHS quarterback’s flag.
“We almost gave (GCHS) a big play going into halftime. I think some of us just became content with where we was on the score and almost got beat,” Pass said. “Regardless of the score, you gotta stay locked in for 40 minutes of the game.”
Members of the varsity flag football team and head varsity flag football coach Cherrelle Pass attend the ODYSSEY Media Group’s Fall Media Day 2023 on Oct. 12. The Gladiators won their game against Greene County High School 53-0 on Oct. 24 and Pass felt the team’s goal setting that happened before the game plays a role in their success. “Before the game, I told the team we need to put 50 on the board, that was a conversation we had,” Pass said. “So the sideline was like, ‘Hey, we only have 47, we still need some more points’ and we got it.” Photo by Aza Khan
The second half of the game continued at the same fast pace with the Gladiators scoring frequently. The game ended due to a mercy rule, with CCHS leading by over 19 with two minutes left in the fourth quarter.
“We made the most of our opportunity. Greene County came out and brought what they had, but just being more disciplined, (having) more fundamentals down on our end, we executed on offense (and) defense which played a part in our score (being) 53 to zero,” Pass said.
The game against GCHS was CCHS’ first regional game of the 2023 season, making their region record 1-0 and season record 5-3. Despite this being the first regional game of the flag football team’s season, Wallace feels the team used the added pressure to their advantage.
“I think (the fact that it was a regional game) changed how we played,” Wallace said. “The team was more focused and we was just more in the game than normal.”
In their next home game, the Gladiators will face Athens Academy on Nov. 7. at 5 p.m., aiming for redemption after losing 15-0 to the Spartans in 2022. Pass expects the team’s updated plays and formations to be the deciding factor in the game.
“I think because of everything we’ve been doing up until now we can (beat ACAD). If we use the schemes we have offensively, the schemes we have defensively (and have) people buying in, we could do it (and) we can beat them,” Pass said.
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