Crisp County High School is pleased to announce its first Lady Cougar Flag Football team for the 2025-2026 school year!
The team is being led by Coach Patrick Jelks, who also serves as the Dual Enrollment Coordinator and Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach at the high school.
Coach Jelks says the turnout was so impressive he had to make cuts, but he's excited for everyone to see the talent these girls have.
"I know this is our first year, but I think after y'all see us play that first game, we're going to shock a couple of people," Coach Jelks said. "When they first heard about it, I had almost seventy-five girls come try for the flag football team. So it was so many girls I had to make cuts. So they showed a lot of enthusiasm, and they were ready for the challenge."
For these last few weeks, the girls have been practicing getting ready for their first game which is being held in October.
Sophomore Amir Putnam says she's confident in her teammates.
"I think we're going to win. We got it in the bag. We've been talking about this for a long time. And then they were already telling us in middle school that we were going to get it before. But we never got it. We just got a volleyball team," Amir said. "Do more in practice than what you do on the field, because practice show it all.
...and she's not the only one who was patiently waiting.
Her sister and fellow sophomore Aubrayla Jackson, says this isn't a boys only sport and they're ready to prove it.
"You can do anything you can put your mind to. Don't be scared and work with people you're comfortable with to get through it. I always wanted to play on the boys team, but I couldn't. They told me I couldn't, so I was just waiting for a girls' flat football," Aubrayla said.
Laying the groundwork for future seasons to come, Sophomore Mya Dunlap says she's looking forward to their breakout year.
"I feel really good joining the team. It's our first flag football team. I feel like we're going to do awesome, even if it's our first football team, so we can just get a good image of how it's going to be the next season," Dunlap said.
The team is hosting their scrimmage game in Adel on September 25.
Coach Jelks says he'll put his players up against anyone.
"These girls can do anything guys can do, and some can do it better. And it's giving the girls a lot of confidence. Some that don't play other sports, they were just waiting on the opportunity to play something that they like, and they're stepping up, and I can't wait until the season starts," Coach Jelks said.
A video preview of the girls' hard work is below.
https://live.myvideospot.com/iframe?v=ODcyODU0YThjZjY0NWJkZjU2MmIxNjg3ZjRkY2JlOTQ&share=1