The Long County Blue Tide flag football team has finally achieved one goal they have set out to do since their first season in 2021. They finally won the area championship and get to host the state playoffs.

On Thursday, December 5, the team will host the first and second round of the Division 1 state playoffs. The Tide won the Area 2 championship with a 20-6 win over St. Vincent’s on Thursday, November 14 and finished the regular season 17-2 and 7-0 in area play.

In the flag football playoffs, the area champions host the first and second round games on the same night. The Lady Tide will open the games on Thursday with a matchup against Athens Academy, the four seed from Area 8.

The second game will be played between Pike County, the two seed from Area 5, and Northside Columbus, the three seed from Area 1. The winners of the first two games will play in the second round game later that night.

The Lady Tide have been so close to an area championship over the last four years, finishing as the runner up to Calvary Day every year.

With new area makeups this year, Calvary Day was pushed out of Division 1 into Division 2 and opened the door for the Lady Tide to win the area for the first time in team history.

The Spartans of Athens Academy finished the season 5-9 and came out of the private school dominated Area 8 as the number four seed. They have scored 11.1 points per game while allowing 12.3 points per game.

The Patriots of Northside finished the year 8-5 and are the three seed out of Area 1. They have scored 17 points per game while allowing 12.9 points per game.

The Pirates of Pike County will likely be the toughest test for the Lady Tide. They finished 12-3 and are the two seed out of Area 5. They scored 16.5 points per game and allow just 6.1 points per game. They are ranked 13th in Division 1.

The Lady Tide finished the year 17-2 and scored 22.3 points per game while allowing just 3.8 points per game. They have yet to allow any points in home games this season.

The Lady Tide are led by freshman quarterback Miley Maulden, who took over for three-year starter Kyleigh Sizemore upon her graduation. Kelly Stokes and Kyndall Johnson have been key targets for Maulden, racking up over 1,000 yards between the both of them and nearly 25 touchdowns combined.

The defense for the Lady Tide has been their strong point with the most points allowed in a game all year being 26 against Calvary Day. In their 17 wins, the most points the Lady Tide have given up is 8 to Richmond Hill.

The state playoffs begin Thursday with the first game starting at 5 p.m.