By Josh Bean
Vestavia Hills flag football coach Doug Rogers recalled the season’s first practice when he realized how few experienced players returned from the 2022 squad that had advanced to the state semifinals.
Two players with starting experience on offense returned and only one on defense.
“I was like, ‘All right we’ve got some work to do,’” he said.
Fast forward a few months to when Vestavia Hills walked into Bryant-Denny Stadium on Dec. 6 to play for the AHSAA Class 6A-7A girls flag football championship game. How did that transformation happen?
“Everybody put in the work,” senior Christiana Belcher said.
The Rebels fell 25-0 to Central-Phenix City in the championship game.
“We worked hard to get to this position,” said Rogers, who served on the coaching staff with Debra Broome and Sharman Martin. “We knew from watching tape that that team was going to be pretty tough. They had a lot of formations, a lot of things that they ran, a lot of team speed. We expected to be a little closer than that.
“Our offense kind of struggled out of the gate. We couldn’t figure out what we had to do,” he continued. “These young ladies worked their tails off to get ready for this, worked their tails off to get here, and I can’t tell you how proud I am of this team and what they’ve accomplished this year.”
The 2023 Super 7 championships started with two girls flag games for the first time, as Wenonah defeated Montgomery Catholic 18-12 in overtime in the Class 1A-5A game before Vestavia Hills battled Central in the 6A-7A final.
The AHSAA launched its flag football program three years ago and expanded it to two classifications in 2023 because so many schools have added it. Beginning in 2024, it will be officially sanctioned as a sport by the AHSAA.
In the 6A-7A championship game, Central-Phenix City (18-0) limited the Rebels (17-1) to 63 yards on 33 plays and intercepted four passes.
“We ran into a buzzsaw,” Rogers said. “That team is really, really good.”
Vestavia Hills quarterback Julia Rose completed 8 of 23 passes for 62 yards. River Riley led the Rebels’ defense with six tackles.
Proud of Progress
In the post-game interview room after the championship loss, Riley and Belcher spoke eloquently about the journey the team enjoyed and the passion their teammates displayed throughout the season.
“Our team has been working our tails off since the summer,” Belcher said. “Every single girl on that team wanted it and showed up every single day. Some had to leave early for work, some had other commitments, but they were at practice every single day busting their tails to work for what we wanted to work for. I’m proud of each and every single one of them because everybody wanted it. Everybody put in the work.”
“When we started this season in the summer,” Riley added, “we had maybe two starters on the field. For everyone to have to figure out their plays, relearn everything, learn what you are. You’re a guard? Oh, the next week you’re a wideout. You have to relearn everything. For them to be so accepting and put in the work to get it done, I’m really proud of them.”
The players’ commitment, Rogers said, led to success.
“They lived up to the challenge to get here and do what they did,” he said.
