Clarke Central High School varsity flag football wide receiver Mimi Hill, a senior, jumps in the CCHS Competition Gym during the ODYSSEY Media Group’s Fall Media Day on Aug. 23. The 2025-26 varsity flag football season began on Sept. 8 and the Gladiators will host their first scrimmage of the season on Sept. 22. “I’m really excited heading into the scrimmages. We’ve been working hard during practices and I think it’ll be a great chance to see how we match up against other teams,” Hill said. “I’m also a little bit nervous, but really I’m ready to compete and have fun.” Photo by Iliana Tejada
The CCHS varsity flag football team will take on Hebron Christian High School and Greenbrier High School for a closed scrimmage on Sept. 22 in Billy Henderson Stadium.
With its season opener just around the corner on Oct. 2, the Clarke Central High School varsity flag football team will be tested when it hosts two closed scrimmages against Hebron Christian Academy and Greenbrier High School on Sept. 22 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.
Since the Georgia High School Association flag football season officially kicked off on Sept. 8, the Gladiators have held practices five days a week from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in preparation for competition like the upcoming scrimmages. During the 2024-25 season, GHS finished first in the GHSA Division 2 Area 1 Region while HCHS took second in the Division 2 Area 8 Region.
“Greenbrier won (the GHSA Division 2 Georgia Flag Football State Championship) last year, so it’s gonna be a challenge to see us against a team that has already done what we’re trying to do. Hebron Christian is always good competition, as well,” CCHS head varsity flag football coach Cherrelle Pass said. “(Our) expectations are to go out, compete (and) play a full game.”
“ “When (we) have scrimmages that are less challenging, we can perceive (ourselves) to be better than we are. Playing great competition allows us (to) really see ourselves (and) put it into perspective.”
— Cherrelle Pass,
CCHS head varsity flag football coach
The Gladiators placed fifth in the Division 2 Area 7 Region last year. With both upcoming opponents finishing higher in their regions than CCHS, Pass looks forward to the challenge the private scrimmages will bring.
“It’s always good to rate ourselves amongst great competition so we can see what we lack, (what) we’re strong at or where we can improve and grow,” Pass said. “When (we) have scrimmages that are less challenging, we can perceive (ourselves) to be better than we are. Playing great competition allows us (to) really see ourselves (and) put it into perspective.”
With the scrimmages less than a week away, CCHS varsity flag football blocker Aitana Martinez Duran, a junior and exchange student from Spain who is new to the team, hopes to capitalize on the Gladiators’ chemistry in order to come out on top.
“The team is really united. Everyone seems to be all friends and we have good relationships,” Duran said. “I hope to play some minutes. I hope that everything goes fine, we win (and) we have a good time. I’m so excited.”
