By Michael Butler

There will be 150 flag football teams participating this season in the Alabama High School Athletic Association. Flag football happens to be the AHSAA’s fastest growing sport.

Tallassee begins its third year as a program next week. The first two seasons have been pretty good for head coach Pat Love.

The Tigers have gone 24-3-1 over that span, falling to Catholic in the playoffs both years. The Knights reached the title game both times, winning it in 2024. Last season’s 13-7 semifinal setback in Montgomery was Tallassee’s only loss.

“We expect to have the same type of season we’ve had the last two years,” Love said.

Catholic will not be a roadblock this season with the AHSAA’s recent reclassification cycle splitting private schools and public schools for post-season competition.

“They are on the schedule,” Love noted. “It’s good competition for us. We want to beat them. They beat us twice in close games. It’s just going to be public schools when we get to the playoffs. In theory, it should help us out a little bit.”

Last year, Tallassee was in Class 1A-5A. This year, they will be in the new Class 1A-4A.

There have been a couple of key transfers who have left the program. London O’Neal is now at Park Crossing. Kam Tate is at Wetumpka. Last year’s quarterback Cheyann Easterling is unavailable. Junior Jordyn Morris will be taking over. Her brother Trent is the boys’ team QB. Love sees similarities.

“She can throw the ball deep. She’s fast. She runs the option very well. She’s very accurate. She was our back-up last year. We’ve just got to get her in game-type situations. She’s got all the tools to be great.

“We’ve got our receiving crew back. Reese Gough will be big time for us. We’ve got Myka McKeithen on the other side. We’ve got our running back Jaaliyah Williams. Lila Kate Fulgham is our center. Marlee Osborne plays both sides of the ball. Maddie Tennyson is going to help on both sides of the ball. Abbi Carwile is going to play both sides.”

The roster has almost doubled with success and overall interest in the sport. That will open the door to field a junior varsity team this season as well.

“It takes weeks, months to get the grasp of it,” said Love. “They don’t play backyard football like the boys did.”

The Tigers open with Smiths Station on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 5:00 in Tallassee. The JV game will follow the varsity matchup.

2026 Schedule