FLAG FOOTBALL SEMIS: Tallassee meets Catholic for second time in 1A-5A semis

Marlee Osborne races for the end zone in Tallassee’s win last week over Marbury. The Tigers will play Catholic Tuesday for the right to go to the Class 1A-5A championship game in Birmingham. (Kyle Thornton)

By MICHAEL BUTLER

Back in August, 113 schools kicked off their season in the newly-sanctioned sport of flag football.

This week, only four teams are still playing.

Tallassee's inaugural team has reached the Class 1A-5A semifinals and will play Catholic in Montgomery on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The winner advances to the state championship game in Birmingham on Dec. 4.

"The girls have worked hard all year and (gotten) better and better every week," said Tallassee head coach Pat Love. "They grew as football players. I'm extremely proud of them. I'm not surprised of where we are."

Tallassee beat Marbury, 26-0, last week in the quarterfinals behind senior quarterback Regan Easterwood, who was responsible for three touchdowns - two passing and one rushing.

"I played a lot of backyard football growing up," Easterwood said. "It wasn't that hard. My brother played football. We always threw around. It was definitely a different throwing mechanic, but coach Pat taught us well."

One of Easterwood's top targets, freshman Reese Gough, had never picked up a football prior to this season.

"It was new," she said. "At first I couldn't catch it."

The Tigers are 12-1-1. Their lone defeat was on Sept. 5 against this week's foe. Catholic (15-4) won 40-7.

"We're a totally different team than when we played them early in the season," Love said. "We were very new. We're totally different defensively and offensively. It's going to be a good game. I expect us to go down and win."

Sophomore Marlee Osborne is also optimistic about Tallassee's chances on Tuesday.

"We've built a lot of confidence throughout the season from that game," Osborne said. "We've learned a lot. I think we have a really good chance."