LUDOWICI, GA -- Last year, the GHSA introduced flag football as a varsity sport, giving female students a chance to excel on the gridiron. 

The Lady Blue Tide opened their inaugural season with a scrimmage game against the New Hampstead Lady Phoenix on Thursday, Oct. 7. 

The scrimmage was a good feeling out process for the Lady Tide as the first half consisted of both teams on offense for ten minutes. 

The Tide took the field first as they were able to get three drives in with senior Makayla Raimer picking up some good yards on the first drive. 

The first two drives ended with failed fourth down conversions, but it seems they have some good weapons in Raimer, running back Ke'Osha McKeever and receiver Amiyah Simpkins. 

The Tide were not able to score on offense, but defensively they seemed to have some success. 

The Lady Phoenix did score on a 23-yard pass to go up 7-0. 

However, the Phoenix’s next two drives stalled, mostly thanks to two sacks by freshman Justiz Williams. 

The Tide were down 7-0 going into the half with the second half being played like a regular game: a 20-minute running clock with the final minute seeing the clock stopped in various situations. 

The teams went back and forth in the second half with the Phoenix finally getting their offense going on what was their final drive of the game. 

They picked up 25 yards to the Tide 20 and eventually completed a pass from seven yards out to go up 13-0. 

That was the final score and despite the final score, head coach Paul Austin was optimistic about his team’s future. 

He did say the team seemed “one-dimensional” as they were missing a few softball players, whose season ended earlier in the week. 

“We have a long way to go, but I am very proud of how they continue to want to learn and be coachable,” Austin said. “I am super excited about the future of the flag football team.” 

The team will open the regular season on Thursday, Oct. 14 at Richmond Hill and will host Claxton on Tuesday, Oct. 19.