Prattville moves on in flag football playoffs
Lanieya Page’s punt return broke a 7-7 tie to lead Prattville to a win over Tuscaloosa County in the 6A-7A flag football playoffs on Monday. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
NORTHPORT -- Hartley McCay’s punt return for a touchdown late in the first half broke a 7-7 tie and lifted the Prattville Lions to a 19-13 win over Tuscaloosa County in the quarterfinals of the 6A-7A flag football playoffs at Tuscaloosa County High on Monday.
Prattville (14-5) will play host to the winner of Wednesday’s game between Daphne and Central-Phenix City in the semifinals next week.
“It’s the first time all year we’ve scored in all three phases of the game,” said Prattville coach Brian Pittman, coach of the first team to reach the semifinals. “It’s exciting. The girls are very excited. It’s something we have talked about but tonight they realized we are one win away from playing for it all.”
Lanieya Page caught the punt from the Wildcats and lateraled the ball to McCay, who went 62 yards down the sideline on the final play of the first half to break a 7-7 tie.
McCay, who finished with 43 rushing yards, had scored the game’s first touchdown on a run, then broke the tie with her punt return.
Page had a 21-yard interception return for a touchdown to put the Lions up 19-7 before the Wildcats scored the game’s final touchdown in the last two minutes.
Eriana Benson had a sack and two tackles for loss to lead the Lions on defense. Anna Bone had a sack and both McCay and London Williams had interceptions.
Prattville’s win is the first of eight quarterfinal games played this week, including four in 1A-5A and four in 6A-7A. The Lions await the winner of Wednesday’s game between Daphne and Central-Phenix City. Prattville has played Central twice this season, losing 41-6 at home on Sept. 12 and 28-0 at Central on Oct. 3.
“At this point, we’re going to be able to come in and play loose because we’re in year one of our program,” Pittman said. “We’re playing with house money. Whichever one it will be, you’re in the semifinals, you have to play clean. You can’t turn the ball over, you can’t give up the big play and you’ve got to make them earn everything they get.”
Prattville will host the semifinal game at a location to be determined. The Lions cannot hold the game at Stanley-Jensen Stadium because of construction at the stadium.
“I don’t know if we’ll be at the stadium but we’ll be at Prattville,” Pittman said. “We could be at Marbury. They’re looking at a couple of different things. We won’t be playing at Stanley-Jensen but we’ll be playing somewhere.”
AHSAA FLAG FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
CLASS 6A-7A
QUARTERFINALS (Nov. 6-13)
Game 1 -- Hewitt-Trussville at Lee
Game 2 -- Vestavia Hills at Homewood
Game 3 -- Prattville 19, Tuscaloosa County 13
Game 4 -- Daphne at Central-Phenix City, Wednesday
SEMIFINALS (Nov. 14-21)
Game 5 -- Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Game 6 -- Prattville vs. Game 4 winner
FINALS (Dec. 6, University of Alabama, 3 p.m.)
Game 7 -- Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
CLASS 1A-5A
QUARTERFINALS
Game 1 -- Leeds at Westminster Christian, Wednesday, 6 p.m.
Game 2 -- Hale County at Wenonah, Tuesday, 3:30 p.m.
Game 3 -- Catholic at Selma, Tuesday, 5 p.m.
Game 4 -- Satsuma at Brew Tech, Tuesday, 6 p.m.
SEMIFINALS (Nov. 14-21)
Game 5 -- Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Game 6 -- Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
FINALS (Dec. 6, University of Alabama, 1 p.m.)
Game 7 -- Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner