With a single loss on the season and a 10-game win streak on the line, the Hillgrove Hawks Flag Football team traveled to Georgia State University in Atlanta yesterday for their final game. Also making the trip was their region rival, the Marietta Blue Devils. Both teams had won all four playoff games and were the last teams standing in Division 3 (7A). They were playing each other for the third time this season, but this one was for the state title.

The Hawks had also made it to the championship game last season. It was the first year of GHSA flag football play, and Hillgrove made a surprising deep run as a fourth seed. The team lost to West Forsyth by one point to settle for state runner-up. They intended to change that in 2021.

Cobb County is notably strong in flag football. Besides Hillgrove and Marietta, Allatoona, McEachern, Osborne, and Pope were also postseason contenders. McEachern was eliminated by Marietta in the quarterfinals to dash the hopes of a Cobb Schools championship game. Nevertheless, it turned out to be a Cobb County final. Hillgrove and Marietta are located a mere five miles apart.

The Blue Devils entered the championship with only two losses—both to Hillgrove. Hillgrove head coach Daniel Pinckney was optimistic entering the third meeting, but remained cautious. "Yes, we have beaten them twice," he said, "but Marietta is an elite team with a great coach. Anyone who knows athletics knows that it is difficult to beat a team three times in one season."

"With that said," he continued, "we think we have an understanding of them and what they want to do. We will have to play a great game, but I like our chances to win. I'm not one to make predictions, but I believe in our ladies, they believe in themselves, and it's going to come down to who makes the least mistakes."

Although Coach Pinckney said he wasn't one to make predictions, his statement about mistakes proved to be prophetic. Hillgrove's mistake-causing defender, Lauren Render, had three interceptions in the game. Render's first was a pick 6 on Marietta's second possession that turned out to be the only TD of a mostly defensive first half. The Hawks took a 7-0 lead into the intermission.

Render got the scoring going again on the Hawks' first possession of the second half with a wide-open 4th and goal reception. Hillgrove QB Lacey Carder patiently waited as Render shook defenders on a dig route to the middle of the end zone for an easy TD catch. The Blue Devils answered with a critical 4th and goal score of their own to close the Hawk lead to seven, 13-6.

With six minutes to go in the game, fans from both sides were on their feet recognizing that the next drive would make or break the game. Lacey Carder recognized this too and took off running for a 50-yard sprint inside the Marietta 10-yard line. Two plays later, Carder finished what she started with a drive-capping TD run to put the Hawks in control, 20-6, and less than three minutes to go.

With the game nearly out of reach, Marietta was forced to go deep on their next possession. Facing a 4th down and game to go, Hennessey heaved a long ball that found its way into Render's hands once again. Her third pick of the afternoon secured the victory and the 7A championship.

"Winning this means a lot to the ladies and Hillgrove," said a happy Coach Pinckney. "They are very proud of their accomplishment as they should be. They put in a lot of time to learn football and to be able to execute it on a consistent level." 

Coach Pinckney has consistently given the credit to the Hawk ladies and their work ethic. But when asked what it meant to him personally, he gave a wider perspective of the win. "It's great to be a part of something that was built from the ground up," he said. "It has been fun watching this program grow over the past two seasons. I look forward to see what the future brings!"

Congratulations Hillgrove ladies and Coach Pinckney on your state championship win and an amazing season! We look forward to more exciting flag football action next year...

(Special thank you to Barbara Morgan for all of the great photos!)