The Long County Lady Blue Tide flag football team closed out the regular season on Thursday, November 20 as they hosted the Appling County Pirates. The game was never really in doubt as they rolled to a 26-0 shutout victory, thanks in part to a big effort by one senior for the Tide.

On the Tide’s first possession, facing a third and 12 at the 32, Mallory Skipper hit Hollie Filkins over the middle and she flipped it back to Miley Maulden, who picked up 17 yards to the 15.

On the next play, Skipper hit Alyssa Skipper on a 15-yard strike over the middle to put them up 7-0.

Macey Higgason, who earlier had a third-down pass breakup, came up big again on the next drive as she came down with an interception and returned it to midfield.

After the Tide forced a stop on downs on Appling’s next series, Skipper hit Skipper for 18 yards to the 13 before she hit Higgason from there to put the Tide up 13-0 with 3:40 left until halftime.

With less than a minute left until halftime, Skipper found a wide open Catherine Sikes for a 30-yard touchdown to make the score 20-0 at the half.

It was all defense for the Tide in the second half as Higgason came up with her second interception of the night after the Tide were forced to punt on their first drive of the half.

They set up at the Pirates 35 before picking up a first down to the 19 three plays later. Skipper found Sikes again on a 19-yard strike to add to their impressive lead, putting them up 26-0.

The teams traded possessions before the Pirates got the ball back late in the fourth quarter after a Tide punt. The Pirates got to the Tide 24 on the return but Higgason was there once again.

Right before the two-minute warning, Higgason picked off a third pass as she sealed the shutout victory for the Tide.

With the win, the Tide finish the regular season 16-1 and 4-1 in Area 2 play. They will enter the state playoffs after Thanksgiving as the number two seed and will be on the road for the first and second round of the playoffs, slated to be played December 4.