It finally happened. Central-Phenix City flag football, the absolute titans of Alabama, took a 20-12 loss to Merced (Calif.) on Friday, Sept. 11. That isn’t just a loss, folks, that’s the end of an absolutely legendary 62-game winning streak that stretched back almost four years, a run of dominance the likes of which we rarely see in any sport.
The Streak is History, But Maybe That’s the Point?
The Red Devils hadn’t lost since November 2022, when they dropped a game to Auburn High School in the state quarterfinals during their very first official season. For years, they’ve been *the* team to beat in Alabama, racking up three-straight AHSAA Class 6A-7A state titles along the way. But coach Mitchell Holt actually talked about this ahead of the season. He said, “If we lose a game or two or three or whatever, the goal is to be challenged in the regular season. So, then we get to the postseason, we know what we’re made of.” Well, coach, you just got challenged. Big time.
Merced Shows Up Big at the MaxPreps Showdown
This massive upset went down at the inaugural MaxPreps Flag Football Showdown in San Diego, a huge deal that brought together 18 top teams from across the country. Central had cruised earlier in the day, beating Del Norte (Calif.) 39-7, before running into the Merced Bears wall in the afternoon. And what a wall it was. Merced, now sitting at a pristine 12-0 this season, looks like one of California’s top squads. They’re led by senior quarterback Antonia Lejarde, who’s been lighting it up with 2,182 passing yards and 37 touchdowns against just three interceptions. Talk about clutch when the stakes are highest!
This loss for Central might sting, but it’s exactly the kind of test Coach Holt wanted. For Merced, staying undefeated and taking down the top-ranked team in the nation is a statement. Lejarde and the Bears are proving they belong at the top, and everyone who watched that game knows they’re for real.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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