Game Coverage: CCHS vs. Grayson High School varsity flag football

Clarke Central High School varsity flag football wide receiver KD McArthur goes to pull the flag of a Grayson High School varsity flag football player during their game against GHS on Oct. 28 in Billy Henderson Stadium. Going into halftime, the Gladiators were up 13-6, but the Rams almost caught up during the last two minutes of the fourth quarter as CCHS escaped with a 13-12 win. “I’m proud of these girls,” head varsity flag football head coach Cherrelle Pass said. “But, we can’t get comfortable, we can’t get complacent because as everybody saw, we (were a) possession down from (it) being a tied game.” Photo by Marcus Quarles

The CCHS varsity flag football team beat Grayson High School with a final score of 13-12 in their game on Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. in Billy Henderson Stadium.

The Clarke Central High School varsity flag football team continued their five-game win streak against their non-region opponent Grayson High School, winning by a final score of 13-12 on Oct. 28.

The game started quickly with varsity flag football wide receiver KD McArthur, a sophomore, running 60 yards and scoring a touchdown on the first play of the game while she and her teammates sported pink jerseys in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“When I got the football, I forgot everything. I (was) just running so it felt pretty good (to score),” McArthur said. “I think it helped a lot by just getting (my team) in the locked-in mindset (and) just showing (that) we got this.”

However, after this, teams struggled offensively until halfway through the second quarter when McAurther caught an interception at the 20-yard line and cleared 60 yards to score another touchdown for the team, making the score 13-0.

Clarke Central High School varsity flag football coaches Cherrelle Pass and Taylor Pass wear customized sweatshirts in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month while they prepare for the Gladiators’ game against Grayson High School on Oct. 28 in Billy Henderson Stadium. After the game, the Gladiators presented CCHS physical education teacher Evan Adams, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, a bouquet of flowers, a pink jersey and a check from the flag football booster club matching the gate money from the game. “I want her to know that we see her, we hear her (and) we’re here for her,” head varsity flag football head coach Cherrelle Pass said. “We want to show empathy, and we want to show her that she’s not doing this alone. Physically, she may be carrying that burden but emotionally we’re here.” Photo by Marcus Quarles

By the end of the second quarter, GHS’ offense picked up and they scored a touchdown pass as the buzzer for halftime went off, leaving a score of 13-6.

“(Scoring) definitely gave me more confidence,” GHS safety Kamryn James, a senior, said. “We were very excited, we needed that so we were all jumping with excitement.”

“I think it helped a lot by just getting (my team) in the locked-in mindset (and) just showing (that) we got this.”

— KD McArthur,
CCHS varsity flag football wide receiver

After halftime, the game slowed down. Neither team scored in the third quarter due to strong defense on both sides. In the fourth quarter, the Gladiators made strong efforts with multiple interceptions but failed to put up any points while the Rams were able to score with one minute left on the clock using a run play.

Still, the Gladiators held on and won the game giving them a 7-1 overall record.

“We just played the number 23 team in the state of Georgia and we beat them 13-12 right at the wire,” head varsity flag football head coach Cherrelle Pass said. “I think we could have closed the game out earlier versus going to the wire by just staying mentally tough and staying disciplined in all aspects of the game, but we still finished out with a win, so I’m proud of them.”

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