Charlotte Flag Team Wins Championship

CHARLOTTE COURT HOUSE – Perfect!  That’s the best word to describe the season for the Charlotte County Youth Football Flag team.  After finishing the regular season 10-0, they were the Regular Season District Champions and the Sportsmanship Award Winner.  “This combination is especially impressive because it teaches the children that they can play hard and win while following the rules and having manners.  This is what we want to instill in all of our children,” said Leslie Poling, flag head coach and football director.

The play-off game on October 28^th had the Patriots facing off against the Prince Edward Eagles at their home field.  The Eagles were the Patriots’ fiercest competition during the regular season, and the play-off game was no different.  Prince Edward scored first and kicked for two extra points.  The Patriots scored a touchdown in the second quarter but failed to complete the extra point and went to halftime down 6-8.  They were not showing their best blocking during this game but managed to score another touchdown in the second half while a strong defense prevented the Eagles from scoring.  The Patriots won their toughest game 12-6 and earned a spot in the Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl matched up the undefeated Charlotte Patriots from the James River District and the undefeated Emporia Renegades from the Southside District at Prince Edward County High School on November 4^th.  The strong defense that Charlotte has been known for all season kept Emporia from scoring even though they had the ball during the entire first quarter.  The Patriots’ defense is not only strong, but deep.  At least ten different players pulled flags (the equivalent of tackling) during this game.  The Patriots’ offense got the ball in the second quarter and went four and out.  The Renegades had a long offensive drive in the second quarter and finally scored a touchdown with 1:27 remaining.  This lit a fire under the Patriots who blocked hard and gave their runner a path to run a touchdown from the line of scrimmage with 1:01 remaining in the half.  Emporia was able to make their extra point and Charlotte wasn’t, making the halftime score Charlotte 6 – Emporia 7.

The second half was all Charlotte.  The Patriots scored on their first drive and kicked for two extra points.  Defense stayed strong and prevented the Renegades from scoring.  The Patriots scored a third touchdown in the 4^th quarter with another huge run.  The final score was Charlotte 20 – Emporia 7.

The Patriots’ Flag team consists of 27 5-7 year old boys.  Many people have likened coaching them to herding cats, and that’s a valid comparison.  The team consists of quarterback/running backs:  Alex Gee and Cole Toombs; kicker:  Cameron Clark; offensive specialists:  Sawyer Rowley-Clark, Nathan Smith, Jamarius Gray, Emmitt Rowley-Clark, Mikhail Fuller, Brayson Duncan, Brody Jones, Carter Beard, Carter Clowdis, Gavin Hammonds, Aiden Friend, Zion Thomas, and Caleb Eason; Defensive specialists:  Carper McCarty, Chris Rowan, Damari Ridley, Neymyah Hill, Will Rundstrom, Rashard Elam, Cale Schrekengost, Isaiah Smith, Hyde Hamlett, Lincoln Rowley-Clark, and Jackson Matthews.  The team is coached by Leslie Poling, Ben Rowley, and Phillip Watts, with assistance from Morgan Dickerson and Nora Poling.

Thank you to the cheerleaders and the players’ families for all of their support throughout the season.  The flag cheerleaders are:  Leighton Adams, Peyton Bailey, Mackenzie Barton, Chesney Brown, Leah Cowart, Nicole Duffer, Emma Hudson, Avarie Lipscomb, Sophie Lyle, Adilyn Mason, Syler Rowley-Clark, Sydney Scruggs, Piper Toombs, Kinsley Waddell, and Bailey Walker.  They are coached by Kristin Barton and Lisa Walker.