KICKOFF COUNTDOWN: Catholic, Central-Phenix City flag football open the 2026 season
Central-Phenix City and Catholic matched up last year with the Red Devils winning a close game.
By TIM GAYLE
The first game in the 2026 high school season will be a flag football matchup between Catholic and Central-Phenix City in the annual Kickoff Classic in Phenix City.
“It definitely means a lot,” Catholic senior Frances Ann Rogers said, “and we’re not just trying to prove it to other people, we’re proving it to ourselves. We know we’re a great team and the wins and losses don’t define us. This is just a great opportunity to play another great program. Just being on this stage shows the growth that our program and Central’s program has had.
Each year, the sport of flag football grows a little more, from its humble beginning in this state in 2021; to doubling in popularity as Central, Catholic and other schools adopted the sport in 2022; to its official inclusion in 2024, the year Central and Catholic both won state championships; to this season with 150 schools now participating in the sport.
“I think it’s really rewarding,” Catholic senior Avery Sadler said. “I never, ever imagined I’d be playing against a team like Central and being recorded like we are. I’m really excited to play Central. They’re really competitive and the atmosphere is just great up there.
Central has been nationally recognized for its ability, winning three consecutive state championships and compiling a 57-0 record over the past three seasons -- which includes three wins over Catholic.
“We know with them, and that’s why we like to play them early, it’s going to point out our weaknesses, what we’re good at and what we need to work on,” Catholic coach Whitney Toole said. “I think (in the 2025 game) we both had jitters and mistakes on both sides of the field, but just getting those out and still being able to compete at a high level with a team like that was exciting to see. I think it gave the girls some momentum going into the season.”
Central took an early lead in the matchup at Catholic before the Knights trimmed the deficit to 14-12. In the fourth quarter, one Catholic drive ended with an interception in Central territory, another turned the ball over on downs at the Central 2-yard line in a 21-12 loss.
Thursday afternoon’s matchup will be the fifth consecutive year the two teams have met.
“We want to schedule the best,” Central coach Mitchell Holt said. “(The rivalry) has been going on for a few years now and we wanted to maintain that game because they played us the toughest last year. We won by one score. They always give us a tough game to open the season. We find out what we’re made of and what we need to work on quickly before we get into region play.”
It’s a game players on both teams look forward to playing and now it’s on a statewide stage in the televised Kickoff Classic on Thursday at 3 p.m.
“I think we’re coming into it the same way we went into it last year,” Sadler said. “We competed really well with Central. It is televised, but so was the state championship.”
“They’re definitely good, but so are we,” Rogers said. “I believe in our team. Like last year, we were close to beating them so we know what we need to do.”
Both coaches have developed a friendship from the rivalry that started in the first season when Catholic’s postseason run ended in a loss at Central.
“After that first game, we just started talking,” Holt said. “Because once you play a non-region team, you can ask their opinion and what you need to work on, what they picked up on before the game and during the game. That’s the good thing about playing good coaches. We’re friends. Just running ideas past each other and helping each other out any way we can.”
“We’ll start talking after this week,” Toole said. “We’ll share film, we’ll help them on the teams we go up against. It’s just about who we’re playing, some that they had played before. Hey, what did you see when we played y’all? What can we work on? I’ve just always thought highly of the job he’s done there, so any feedback he gives me is very helpful.”
Catholic returns almost intact from last year’s run to the Class 1A-5A finals, while Central will be replacing quarterback Mariah Harrison and will be playing without standout seventh grader Kinley Rasmus, who is currently competing in the Little League World Series.
“We’ve got a new quarterback (sophomore Deeanna Amos),” Holt said. “There’s nothing she can’t do but when the game starts, for two or three kids, it’s their first game as starters. Not having Kinley is going to be detrimental because Kinley, even though she’s just 12 years old, she plays a huge role offensively and defensively.”
Both coaches are grateful for the opportunity to be included as participants in the Kickoff Classic.
“It’s exciting, no matter what sport it is,” Toole said. “Not only the publicity they’re going to get, but what it’s going to bring to flag football -- being able to play on TV and treating it almost like it’s a state championship type atmosphere. It’s exciting for the school and the community.”
“It’s awesome,” Holt added. “We’ve had big games to start the season and they mentioned it (as a possibility) last year but couldn’t work it out. It’s a big deal to be on that stage. It’s first class and for us to just to be included, it’s special.”
The two teams will participate in the Kickoff Classic along with their football counterparts, Central-Phenix City and Thompson, who will play at 7 p.m.
“It’s an honor to play (new Central coach) Cody (Flournoy) and them,” Thompson coach Mark Freeman said. “What a great program. We’ve played them several times in big games. It’s always been a class-run situation when we play them. Hopefully, this year will provide another great game.”