FALL RECAPS: Prattville wins first-ever flag football game; Hooper sweeps volleyball wins
The newly formed Prattville flag football team won its first contest on Thursday, defeating Opelika in overtime. (Contributed)
STAFF REPORT
OPELIKA -- Hartley McCay intercepted a pass in overtime and followed up with the game-winning touchdown as the Prattville Lions won their first-ever flag football game, 18-12, over Opelika at Bulldog Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Lions (1-0) jumped out to a quick 12-0 lead, then weathered a Bulldog rally before winning in overtime as McCay, a freshman two-way player, intercepted a pass to stop the Bulldogs, then scored on the next play.
Prattville jumped out to a 12-0 lead as sophomore Lanieya Page returned an interception for a touchdown on the first play of the game and junior quarterback Kaytie Chandler scored on a run on the Lions’ first offensive possession.
It was one of two interceptions by Page. Mady-Cate Lindsey also had an interception for the Lions.
“I think it had a little bit of everything,” Prattville coach Brian Pittman said. “We went from starting off about as hot as you could … then we had a little lull with emotions getting the most of us. Then we kind of regrouped, really collected ourselves and played well in the fourth quarter and in overtime.
“For the first game in school history and the first win, it had everything you could ask for in a ballgame.”
Prattville has little time to celebrate with the 2023 home opener at Stanley-Jensen Stadium against Valley scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m.
“We’re going to enjoy it tonight,” Pittman said, “but we can’t just let this be the bar for us. We’ve got to come back and go to battle against a good Valley team. We expect a big crowd for the first home game so we feel like adrenalin will take over for us. I think we’ll be very excited and pumped up and ready to play.”
VOLLEYBALL
Hooper 3, Fort Dale 0
HOPE HULL --- Grace Seale had 17 kills and six digs to lead Hooper Academy to a sweep of Fort Dale Academy in the home opener at Darrell Self Memorial Gym on Tuesday.
Hooper (3-0) improved to 1-0 in AAA Region 1 play and will play host to Abbeville Christian on Thursday afternoon before traveling to Glenwood School on Monday in a rematch of the 2022 state championship match.
Kaylee Midkiff had nine kills and a pair of blocks, while Annie Bressler had nine kills, five digs and a pair of aces. Libby Bressler had 28 assists, two digs and a kill, KG Taylor had seven digs and two aces and Henlee Garvin had a pair of kills, two digs and an ace.
Hooper Academy 3, Morgan Academy 0
SELMA -- The Colts improved to 2-0 on Monday by sweeping the Senators, 3-0, in the Morgan gym.
Hooper had opened the season on Thursday with a 3-0 win at Abbeville.
In those two matches, Grace Seale had 15 kills and seven aces and Annie Bressler had 13 kills, seven aces and a block. Libby Bressler had 38 assists, seven aces and nine digs and Henlee Garvin had 11 digs, three aces and three kills.
Kaylee Midkiff added eight kills, Victoria Hagemann had seven kills, a pair of aces and a block and KG Taylor had eight digs, four kills and a pair of aces.