Second-annual Corky Kell & Dave Hunter Flag Football Classic set for Monday kickoff

The second annual Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Flag Football Classic returns to West Forsyth High School on Monday, Sept. 29 with a four-game slate of must-see matchups that feature some of the state’s most successful programs and offers a star-powered lineup that has collected a combined seven state titles since the introduction of flag football in 2020. In total, the eight participating teams achieved a 165-29 overall record last season and brought home three state titles in addition to a runner-up finish, a run to the semifinals and two quarterfinal appearances.

Each of the four matchups will be televised live on the Peachtree Sports Network (cable and YouTube TV) and streamed digitally on the Atlanta News First website/app as well as the National Federation High School (NFHS) Network. From your home, download the free ANF+ app anywhere you stream — FireTV, AppleTV, Roku and YouTube TV — simply by searching for “Atlanta News First” on those platforms. If you are on the go, you can download Atlanta News First for free in the app store on your Apple or Android device. You can also watch live here on the WANF – Special Events channel.

In the opening game, Milton and Harris County will meet for the first time in program history.  Harris County is coming off of a 20-5 season and reached the quarterfinals in Division 1 before falling in a 7-0 heartbreaker to four-time defending state champion Southeast Bulloch in the semifinals. The Tigers return starting quarterback and Miss Georgia Football Preseason Watchlist selection Madalynn Cauley for her senior season. Last year, Cauley completed 70 percent of her passes for 3,615 yards and 58 touchdowns, while leading the team in rushing with an additional 1,222 yards and 18 scores. She also stepped up defensively and accounted for 41 tackles and five interceptions. Rusher Baylee Hetzel led Harris County in tackles (65) and sacks (21) last season as a sophomore and will be back to utilize her speed to spark the defense. Like Harris County, Milton also returns a multi-year starter at quarterback with senior Audrey Jensen. As a junior, Jensen led the Eagles with 3,907 passing yards and 54 touchdowns, while splitting duties with McLain Smith—who accounted for an additional 1,163 passing yards and 17 touchdowns. Senior Alana Calhoun (26) and junior Caroline Marshall (20) caught 46 of the team’s 73 receiving touchdowns last season and each tallied 1,600 receiving yards. Milton will compete in Division 4 this season after making it to the Division 3 semifinals last year where the Eagles fell to Pope.

Two-time defending Division 2 state champion Greenbrier will take on Blessed Trinity in another first-ever matchup in Game 2 of the Classic. The Wolfpack lost in a thrilling 12-6 matchup to Allatoona last year in the event and proceeded to win 21-straight games en route to the program’s second-straight state title. Greenbrier graduated quarterback Kenzie Horton, but return Aaliyah Silver, who paced the team with 1,016 yards and a team-high 21 touchdowns last season. Defensively, the Wolfpack allowed just 2.6 ppg last season and shutout 16 opponents—including an 18-0 win over North Oconee in the finals. Silver was a major playmaker on both sides of the ball and recorded 70 tackles and will be back with senior linebacker Sophie Campanaro—who tallied a team-high 74 tackles last season. Blessed Trinity is coming off a 19-4 season and a run to the Division 3 quarterfinals. This year the Titans will compete in Division 4 and will lean on the experience of senior quarterback Addie Spak who accounted for 3,388 passing yards and 45 touchdowns last season. Hannah Daley and Maggie Sullivan are two of the top receivers in the state and will be back for their senior seasons and Daley also led the team in tackles last year with 89. Junior Chelsea Lewis produced eight interceptions last season and is expected to play a significant role this season.

Monday’s third matchup pins defending Division 4 state champion McEachern against last year’s Division 3 state runner-up Pace Academy. Last season, Pace Academy travelled to McEachern on Nov. 18 and fell short 19-0 before its run to the finals. McEachern followed up its win over the Knights with a dominant run to its first-ever state title and capped the year with a perfect 29-0 record. The Indians will carry that 29-game win-streak into the season and will look to replace the production of 2024 Miss Georgia Football winner Chelsea Njoku—who quarterbacked the Indians to the title with a whopping 4,786 yards and 77 touchdowns and a team-high 438 rushing yards and 12 scores.

Host West Forsyth and two-time defending Division 3 champion Pope will close out the Classic in Game 4. What makes this matchup intriguing is that both teams are now in the newly formed Division 5 this season. The Greyhounds completed last year with a 26-2 overall record and will carry a 19-game win-streak into kickoff. The last meeting between these teams came during the 2023 season when Pope scored a 34-0 victory at home. West Forsyth captured its first and only flag football state title in 2020 and is looking to get back to the mountain top with a roster featuring seven seniors after a 7-8 finish last year.