The Greenbrier High School girls flag football team secured its third consecutive state championship with a 20–13 victory over Jenkins High School, finishing off a dramatic title game that included momentum swings and a strong second-half response from the Wolfpack.
“It feels amazing,” Greenbrier head coach James Smith said after the win. “Just the fact that we lost so many pieces last year, lost our head coach, and then coming in and being able to come back and do it again is a huge credit to our seniors.”
Greenbrier struck first in the opening quarter when sophomore quarterback Addisen Odom connected with junior wide receiver Mamie Cate Pangle for a touchdown, giving the Wolfpack an early 7–0 lead.
Jenkins would get on the board in second quarter with a long drive that reached the Greenbrier 1-yard line. On fourth and goal, Jenkins player Angelique Fleming scored on a pitch play, but Greenbrier’s Lexi Lacey denied the extra-point attempt to keep Greenbrier ahead 7–6 with 7:30 left in the half.
Late in the second quarter, Greenbrier attempted a deep pass, but Jenkins intercepted the throw with 13 seconds remaining. On the final play before halftime, Jenkins quarterback I’Yarna Lee completed a 73-yard hail mary touchdown pass to A’Niyah Browner, giving Jenkins a 13–7 lead at the break.
Jenkins opened the second half with possession, but Greenbrier’s defense came out of the half ready. Darcy Bridwell recorded a sack on second down, and the Wolfpack forced a three-and-out to regain possession.
On Greenbrier’s first play of the drive, Odom hit Greenbrier wide receiver Aaliyah Silver on a deep completion that moved the ball to the Jenkins 3-yard line. A couple of plays later, Greenbrier’s Carrington Meyers scored on a 1-yard direct snap, tying the game at 13–13 with 5:24 left in the third quarter after the point-after attempt fell incomplete.
Jenkins drove into Greenbrier territory on the next possession and reached the 15-yard line, but the Wolfpack defense held firm and would get a stop on 4th and goal. The teams remained tied heading into the fourth quarter.
Early in the final period, Greenbrier stopped Jenkins on fourth down and took over at its own 10-yard line. Meyers picked up key first downs before Odom completed a big third-down pass to Pangle to move the ball to the Jenkins 16.
On the next play, Odom found Greenbrier center Abby Lester for a 16-yard receiving touchdown. Lexi Lacey caught the extra-point conversion to give Greenbrier a 20–13 lead with 3:45 remaining.
Greenbrier’s defense forced another stop on the following drive, and on 4th down Jenkins surprisingly punted with 1:39 left on the clock instead of going for it. The Wolfpack ran out the remaining time to secure the victory and complete a rare three-peat as state champions.
“Our seniors led us this year,” Smith said. “We’re going to miss them, but it was all them and the work them and the coaching staff put in.”
