With a rather unfortunate and rocky 1-6 start to their season up to that point, our North Atlanta girl’s flag football team was determined a win heading into a matchup against fellow unlucky starters in Cross Keys. Entering the game with a winless record, Cross Keys seemed like the perfect prey for the Dubs to pounce on to help get back on track and turn the tides of the season. The girls prepared for the game with major intensity, upping each practice to a new gear.
Before the game, Coach Ricky Plante made sure to instill focus into the girls, giving them an invigorating motivational pregame talk to boost their pre-existing confidence. The main center of the speech: honing in on our defensive prowess. While the offensive performances before the game were plausible, Plante linked the unlucky results to lapses on the defensive side of the ball. So, he gave them the major goal of holding Cross Keys to only two scores. The girls, determined to add to the win column were now pumped up by the intense pep talk and the goal set in place for the defensive Dubs.
Starting the first quarter on defense, the point of improvement of the team, the girls immediately pressed Cross Keys with their impressive tenacity. This increased aggression that Plante instilled in the squad earned the Warriors a quick safety, something that they hadn’t been rewarded all season up until that moment. The cold weather didn’t stop them from getting hot, as the Warriors would carry on the scoring action with a couple of rushing touchdowns by freshmen Nevia Santiago and Olivia Rassano. An interception towards the end of the first period felt like the cherry on top, as the girls looked unstoppable heading into the second period. The second period consisted of more Dubs dominance but in a steadier and calmer version than the first. With the defense still holding the Cross Keys offense to a lackluster shutout on the scoreboard, the Warrior offense added another touchdown on the ground as well as the first touchdown in the air of the day, ending the half at an impressive 26-0.
Following a speech from Coach Plante asking for the girls to keep doing what they were doing, the second half matched his words. The girls continued the pounding that they were giving Cross Keys, collecting three more touchdowns and a surprise extra point to end the game at a resounding final score of 45-0. Junior Rusher Charlotte Brown was ecstatic after the incredible performance, and said, “This was the game of our high school career. Even though we’re onto the next, we’ll ride on this high until our next matchup.”
With this victory being one for the history books, the girls look to reach new heights and go back-to-back with dubs. Looking forward to their next matchup against a tough St. Pius team, Coach Plante continues to instill in the girls the value of hard work and lack of complacency that drives the Dubs on to victory.
