Wenonah flag football was cruising.
The Dragons won the Class 1A-5A state title last year with an 18-0 record after compiling a 17-1 season in 2022 and 17-3 their first year of playing the sport in 2021.
Wenonah continued its dominance with 12 wins to open the 2024 season before Moody ended the 30-game streak with a 25-19 win on Sept. 19.
“They were hurt by it,” said Wenonah coach Cedric Lane. “Some of them had never lost. I hate to lose, especially losing a 30-game winning streak because it meant something, but now they don’t take it for granted. They’ve been focused and making sure they don’t make the same mistakes.”
Wenonah (16-1) has won four straight games since the loss to Moody, including beating the Blue Devils 14-7 in the rematch on Thursday.
With the 32-team playoff beginning on Nov. 4 in each classification — 6A/7A and 1A-5A — the defending champions are confident about the season after some key wins, including earning the title of the NFL Flag Tournament in Dothan earlier.
Quarterback Samarian Franklin, rusher/receiver Makyla Williams, defensive back Jaylin Jones, receiver/linebacker Dejah Tinsley, receiver/linebacker Zariah Evans and center/defensive back Romajah Walton have been key to this year’s success.
Williams leads the team in sacks and touchdown catches while Jones leads in flag pulls and Evans is the leading receiver. Franklin, Williams, Jones and Tinsley are returning starters.
Wenonah has been remarkably consistent since starting the program in 2021 with a 68-5 record.
“We keep losing top players every year and we’re still able to maintain it,” Lane said. “I thought the second year was the best team we had, 18-1 and lost to Hoover in the playoffs (only one classification). We won state and lost a lot of good players last year and it looks like we’re back in contention again.
“Every time we lose players, we can’t replace them, but we find a different way to win.”
In other action:
CLASS 6A/7A
No. 1 nationally-ranked Central-Phenix City (8-0) beat Park Crossing 55-0 last week.
Gerritt Griggs was 14-of-17 passing for 164 yards and 6 touchdowns while Mariah Harrison was 3-of-4 for 46 yards and 2 TDs.
Natalyn Lumpkin caught 5 passes for 63 yards and 4 touchdowns, Savannah Sevier had 4 catches for 71 yards and 2 TDs, Ally Supan caught 4 passes for 32 yards and Summer Gilley grabbed 2 TD passes for 18 yards.
Kamouri Johnson had 5 flag pulls, Kalea Lovejoy had 4 and Shabreia Brannon had 2 interceptions.
Central hosts Brewbaker Tech and Harris County (Ga.) today and Columbus (Ga.) on Thursday.
No. 13 nationally Vestavia Hills (13-1) beat Hoover 28-8 and Fairfield 32-0.
Julia Rose was 19-of-34 passing for 208 yards and 3 touchdowns against Hoover while Callie Davis had 3 catches for 23 yards and 2 TDs, Chloe Leahy had 5 catches for 27 yards and Alexis Rubin had 6 catches for 126 yards and a score.
Molly Mitchell had 6 flag pulls with a sack and Emily Spooner added 4 flag pulls, 2 sacks and a 6-yard rushing touchdown on offense.
Rose was 10-of-14 passing for 163 yards and 5 TDs against Fairfield and Davis had 2 catches for 32 yards, Leahy had 3 catches for 58 yards and 2 TDs and Layne Turner had 3 catches for 37 yards and a TD.
Spooner had 3 flag pulls and added 41 yards rushing with a score.
Mithcell had 7 flag pulls.
The Rebels host Helena on Tuesday.
No. 20 nationally-ranked Prattville (9-2, 4-0) beat Helena 39-7 and Smiths Station 34-6.
Kaytie Chandler threw for 3 touchdowns and ran for another against Helena.
Hartley MCcay rushed for TD and had 2 Interceptions while Laniya Page had 3 receiving TDs.
Avery Patterson had an interception, Emma Moore had 2 sacks and Eriana Benson and Gabbie Hoyle each had a sack.
Chandler passed for 5 TDs against Smiths Station while Page caught 3 TD passes and Mady Cate Lindsey and London Williams each caught a TD pass. MCcay had 65 rushing yards.
Page had an interception and Benson had 2 sacks.
The Lions play at Spain Park on Tuesday.
No. 23 nationally-ranked Daphne (7-0) beat Spanish Fort 21-6 and Robertsdale 28-6.
Aubrey Gregg was 8-of-13 for 141 yards and 2 touchdowns against Spanish Fort while Abby J Johnson had 5 catches for 62 yards and a TD.
Lex Charqueno had 2 catches for 51 yards and a TD, adding 6 flag pulls and an interception on defense.
Dasia Matt had 5 carries for 30 yards and a touchdown and Fredayshia Goodwin had 2 carries for 25 yards.
Mariah Williams had an interception and Allie Gregg and Kaylee Shabel each had 5 flag pulls.
Gregg was 6-of-10 passing for 139 yards and 4 touchdowns against Robertsdale and Piper Crittenden was 6-of-6 for 53 yards.
Matt completed a pass for 9 yards, had 5 carries for 31 yards and a catch for 34 yards while Johnson had 4 receptions for 75 yards and 3 touchdowns. Lex Charqueno had 2 catches for 29 yards, Williams, McKenzie McDonald, Sabrina Charqueno, Ryli Collins and Claire Senese each added a catch and Maggie Sheerer had two.
Kaylee Shabel had flag pulls while Johnson Gregg and Claire Senese each had an interception.
Daphne plays Dothan and host Enterprise on Thursday.
Homewood (8-3, 2-1) beat Mountain Brook 28-0.
Leisel Kellen had 85 passing yards with a touchdown, 26 rushing yards with a TD, a PAT, 22 receiving yards with a TD and a punt return for 13 yards. She amassed 146 yards with 2 touchdowns and a PAT.
Kloeanne Smith added 5 catches for 71 yards with a TD and a PAT.
Taylor Powe had 3 flag pulls and a pass break-up.
The Patriots host Leeds on Tuesday.
Huntsville (3-3) beat Hazel Green 12-0.
Tyja Jackson-Agnew was 8-of-15 passing for 100 yards and had a rushing TD while Amia Cunningham had 3 catches for 70 yards and a rushing TD,
Courtney Battle had 2 interceptions and a flag pull while Ollie Lunoff, Miranda Moore, and Elea Richert each had 3 flag pulls.
Huntsville plays at Grissom on Wednesday.
Minor (4-3) beat Parker 38-0 and Jackson-Olin 21-19 and lost to Hueytown 20-0.
Kristyn Raspberry had a 70-yard run against Jackson-Olin.
The Tigers host Fairfield on Tuesday and Parker on Wednesday.
Pell City (2-7, 2-3) beat Huffman 13-0.
Chloe St John was 9-of-17 passing for 89 yds and a touchdown, Zaniya Mitchell had 6 rushes for 39 yards and Kensley Evans ran 5 times for 52 yards.
Isla Alexander had 5 flag pulls, Mitchell had 3 and and interception.
CLASS 1A-5A
Westminster Christian (5-3, 2-0) beat St. Clair County 39-0.
Wilcox Central (2-3, 2-1) beat Elwood Christian 20-6 and lost to Montgomery Catholic 33-0.
Tamia McMillian had 85 yards passing with a touchdown, a 65 yards receiving with a TD and 45 yards rushing against Elwood Christian.
Alexis Lewis had 110 yards rushing with a TD, 65 yards passing with a TD and 50 yards receiving.
My’toria Dale had 35 yards receiving with a TD.