MACON, Ga. — Flag Football is one of the fastest growing female sports. There are several teams in Macon, including the Mount de Sales Cavaliers.
The team is young, having just started in 2022. The Cavaliers ended their first year 5-3, but in 2023 they turned things around.
The team finished 11-5 on the season, and finished runner-up in the state championship battle against nationally-ranked St. Anne-Pacelli.
The team lost several starting seniors over the offseason. Graham Blackwell is one of the players filling those senior shoes. She has played for the team since their opening season.
"To see this many people come out - I didn't know that they were going to be this many more people to want to show up and to want to play," Blackwell said. "That's really exciting."
There's a lot of anticipation surrounding this season as Mount de Sales is looking to make it back to the state championship stage.
"it's just unbelievably exciting seeing all the energy these girls put. They show up at practice every day. They love it. They enjoy the game," Head coach Carl Perazzola said. "You got girls that are playing other sports at the same time, but they don't want to miss out on playing flag football, so we make it happen for them."
One of the dual threat players is Gracie Peek, who can also be found on the soccer field. She says she hopes to turn her flag football career into a college scholarship.
But for right now, her focus is on practice and improving the defense.
The Cavaliers will take on the Georgia Christian Generals as their first opponent of the season.