The Long County Blue Tide flag football team had an inaugural season for the ages in 2021 as the team finished 12-3, second in the area standings, advanced to the quarterfinals, and were just yards away from advancing to the final four. The 2022 season promises to be full of challenges and hopefully some trophy hoisting. Head coach Paul Austin looks to the season as a new adventure and can sum the outlook up with one word: pressure.
“Everything last year was just brand new and exciting. There was no pressure, no adversity,” Austin said. “This season is a different story. Now, there is an expectation. That is a good thing, but now we have to learn how to handle inward and outward pressure.”
A question Austin now poses to his team is “How will we respond?” He’s confident, however, his team will be up to whatever challenge is thrown their way.
“The great thing about these girls is that they truly love this game,” Austin said. “They are excited to come to practice and really have a great time. I really want them to take it one game at a time and be elite at everything they do. The rest will work itself out.”
With having such a new program last year, Austin expected to have some youth and inexperience. He only had three seniors last season, which, in turn, ended up being a good thing for the 2022 season.
“I feel the young girls have really put in the work this summer to step up into these roles,” Austin said. “I’m really excited for the number returning this year. I’m now having educational conversations about football with them. They are leading the new girls and teaching them.”
During the 2021 season, the team pretty much dominated in their 10 regular season wins. In those wins, they outscored opponents 288-24. They fell to Calvary Day, the defending state champions from 2020 and Southeast Bulloch, the state champions from last season.
They advanced to the state playoffs, defeating Shaw 21-12 round one and Swainsboro 6-0 round two before falling to St. Anne-Pacelli 14-7 in the Elite Eight.
Austin wants to challenge his team this season, mostly to prepare them for the higher level of competition they will face in the postseason. “Some call me crazy,” Austin said.
Looking at their schedule, you might agree. They open the season in Brooklet against Southeast Bulloch, St. Anne-Pacelli and Pace Academy out of Atlanta.
“David fought lions and bears way before he fought Goliath,” Austin said. “I know our schedule will push and it might not be pretty. I told my girls in life you have to face the hard things straight on. I remind them every day to be elite.”
The early part of the season will also be a challenge as the team will be without several of its starting players from last year.
Both starting quarterback Kyleigh Sizemore and wide receiver Amiyah Simpkins are still playing softball as the team gets ready to make its state championship run. They also will miss Delanie Williams, Jaci Smiley and Taylor Hodges from the softball team.
Jada Young is still playing volleyball, but should rejoin the team very soon as well.
The Lady Tide will be on the road for the first three weeks of the season as they won’t have a home game until Nov. 1 against McIntosh County Academy and Lowndes.