HAINES CITY ― Haines City flag football was considered the favorite heading into the FHSAA Class 4A, District 6 championship game Thursday at home against George Jenkins.
And while there was some adversity for much of the contest against a valiant Eagle team, the Hornets ultimately prevailed and won a third district title in a row thanks to a 33-12 victory.
“It actually feels great. And with Z and the way the defense was playing all year, it took us awhile. The first five games we were really rough around the edges. And the girl that got an interception in the end, that’s her first year ever playing, so it was really nice seeing them step up and take up what the other girls were doing in the past,” Haines City head flag football coach Stephen Stansbury said after the game.
Haines City takes early George Jenkins punches
But it was George Jenkins that stood out early, which wasn’t a surprise seeing as though the program has had its fourth straight winning season and second straight 12-plus winning season. Following a crucial flag pull on fourth down to stop Haines City, a four-play drive resulted in George Jenkins sophomore quarterback Myah Batts passing to Emalee Corbett for a 10-yard touchdown with 11:54 to go in the second quarter to make it 6-0 George Jenkins.
Haines City, though, ultimately answered the bell with a nine-play drive that ended with senior quarterback Zebrielle Canaday completing a pass to junior wide receiver Addison Daily for a 1-yard touchdown to tie the game. With scores by Haines City and George Jenkins ― an 8-yard rushing touchdown by Canaday and a 6-yard passing touchdown from Batts to Corbett — Haines City took the momentum thanks to 23-, 65-, and 36-yard rushing touchdowns that sealed the victory.
Canaday’s highlights for the touchdowns and preceding the scores are all so elusive. Some are by design, where she makes a quick cut and goes the distance, while others are improvised, where she acts like she will throw, only to make a few jaw-dropping moves, leaving the defense in the dust. But it wasn’t that easy early on.
“At first it was (all about) how they were rushing me, (so) I had to adjust my team. We did the trips, and the right side was open the whole time,” Canaday said.
Containing George Jenkins’ best player
But it was the defense that had the Hornets in position, as Haines City defensive back Serenity Rosario forced an incomplete pass on a talented thrower in Batts on the Eagles’ sixth offensive possession of the game — a drive that needed to end in a score for the Eagles with the score 20-12 in favor of the home team. But it’s always about the pass rushers who make the secondary’s job easier.
In Haines City’s case, nearly all of their rushers were injured during the year, so Stansbury positioned transfer and first-year player Kayden Gause as a rusher because of her natural athleticism and her ability to stay with Batts as much as possible because of her speed. Canaday also played rusher with her running mate, preventing any long runs, as Batts didn’t have any rushes of 10 or more yards until George Jenkins’ fifth offensive drive of the game.
“I watch a lot of NFL football, so I had to translate it onto the flag football field, and I was able to close down their No. 1 player. I was able to hold her down to as little yardage as I could,” Gause said.
Over-the-top help
It was Gause rushing Batts, which positively impacted Haines City senior defensive back Mikayla Hill, who took care of the backside help and made it tough for Batts, who still managed to impress via throwing ropes and making quick moves to move the ball up the field.
And of course, sophomore defensive back Dar’Rhyanna Outsey intercepted Batts with 4:01 left to effectively secure the game for Haines City.
Haines City (9-3) will be playing one of the top-six teams next week in regionals on the road.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Haines City flag beats Jenkins, wins 3rd straight district title
Reporting by Robert Magobet, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
