DAPHNE — Junior Victoria Moten’s 5-yard touchdown rush gave the Daphne Trojans a 13-7 lead over Alma-Bryant with only 5:25 left in regulation before sophomores Abby Johnson and Kandis Tidwell secured interceptions to seal a regional championship Monday night at Jubilee Stadium.
The Trojans advance to the Alabama High School Athletic Association's Elite Eight state tournament as the Area 1-2 champion and will draw the winner of the Area 3-4 championship which is scheduled to conclude on Thursday, Nov. 2, in Auburn where the Tigers are the defending state champions.
Monday night in Daphne, the Trojans got to celebrate a state-tournament berth on their home field after they took down the MGM Vikings 19-0 in the first round. Head flag football coach Jenny Laird said she was excited to see so many fans in the stands of Jubilee Stadium witnessing history, including Daphne head football coach Kenny King.
“We had a lot of people out tonight; a bunch of people from the community came out, Coach King was here showing his support so it was a good time had by all — everyone who was wearing purple at least,” Laird said. “I’m happy for the kids, they’ve worked so hard and they bring good energy. I think we bring good energy and we compete better than anybody we faced all year so I think that’s why we’re where we’re at.”
Trojan athletes come together to create a state-bound flag football squad
Where the Trojans’ first flag football team is at includes a 13-0 as one of only eight teams remaining in Class 6A-7A. However, it’s more impressive to note that not only does most of the Daphne roster have little to no flag football experience, but they’ve had even less time around each other as athletes from different sports.
“A lot of these kids have not had any interaction with each other prior to this. Because the soccer girls hang out with the soccer girls because that’s what they’re doing. They’re at practice together, doing team bonding together and then go to club together,” Laird said. “So, seeing them all kind of melt together has been really great and they’ve been super supportive.”
Moten, an Alabama softball commit, and junior classmate Alexia Charqueno, an all-state soccer player, confirmed the squad has come together to create another sports family for the Trojan athletes.
“This group, we don’t have any drama,” Moten said. “Everybody loves each other, we all want each other to succeed so I feel like it’s great to win with this group.”
“I did not expect for everyone to come together like a family but it feels so good and it feels perfect. It just feels like a family,” Charqueno said.
History cemented with regional championship
Both athletes also acknowledged the historical aspect of not only being the first team in Daphne High School history but also the first team to claim a regular-season area title undefeated before punching a ticket to state.
“That’s freaking cool. Because just overall for the high school we’ve done flag football but it was for a fundraiser so having an actual team playing for the school — and making it to state — that’s pretty cool,” Charqueno said. “It’s pretty cool to experience and I hope everyone tries it out.”
“We’re making history. Not many girls’ sports have exploded like we have so it’s a big thank you to our fanbase and our coaches and everyone else for believing in us,” Moten said. “Hopefully we’ll keep it going.”
Laird admitted she too couldn’t put into words how a first-year team constructed an undefeated path to the state tournament but the faith in her athletes has never wavered.
“I don’t even know, I can’t explain it,” Laird said of the 13-0 record in an inaugural season. “And we’ve had a couple of close ones here right toward the end of the season, way closer than we had at the beginning, but we’ve just found a way to win every time.”
Up next
The Trojans’ next opportunity to find a way to win will come next week when the AHSAA establishes the next round. Laird expected Daphne to play sometime between Nov. 4-11.
Money quotes
“Final eight heading to face the winner of the Auburn-Central Phenix City region final so we’ll see how it goes but I’m excited, I’m happy for these girls and excited they get to experience this,” Laird said.
“Honestly, I’m thinking about food right now,” Charqueno said of her final thoughts.
“Go home, sleep good and that’s it,” Moten concluded.
