A flag football camp at Memorial Stadium drew about 200 girls on Saturday as Rob DeLoach, the man behind “The Factory,” a training group known for its work with male high school athletes, expanded his reach in the community with an event for girls that drew raves.
The heat index was near 100° before the sun set on the five-hour camp, but that didn’t slow down the girls who made the most of the chance to show off their athleticism, while having a great time and meeting others who share their passion for the sport.
It was a great mix of ages as some rising seniors showed what they could do a few weeks before their high school seasons begin, while a number of grade schoolers offered a glimpse of what they can accomplish in the future.
“This is the first time we’ve held a camp for the girls and it’s been a great day,” DeLoach said. “Flag football is the fastest growing sport in the country and we want to be a part of that by promoting it in Savannah, Georgia. We want to provide the same opportunity that every girl across the country is getting. A lot of these girls have watched their brothers play football in the past, now they have the chance to showcase their athleticism playing football. Now they are getting a chance to do their own thing ― and their brothers can watch them.”
The camp included laser-timed 40-yard dashes along with a number of football drills and 7-on-7 matchups at the end of the event.
Hephzibah Wilson, a rising senior at Calvary Day, showed off her blazing speed in the 40-yard dash as she posted a time of 4.91.
Makayla Smith, a third grader at Godley Station School, drew the attention of DeLoach, and the crowd watching at Memorial Stadium, as the eight-year old blazed through her 40-yard time in 5.75 looking like she was ready to run 10 more sprints.
Tracie Daniels, a rising senior from Woodville-Tompkins, is coming off a junior season where she grabbed 118 flags for a Wolverine team that reached the second round of the state playoffs. She said she was enjoying the chance to compete at the event, while meeting new friends.
“I’m super competitive and I just love the running, the catching the ball and pulling flags,” said Daniels, who is also a standout soccer player for the Wolverines. “I love being able to play aggressive ― I just love that environment. We have a lot of girls from Woodville-Tompkins here today, but I’ve met a lot of new people who are pretty cool. I feel like sports bring us together, so it’s been a lot of fun.”
Julianna Kitchen is a rising sophomore at Calvary Day and was part of a strong contingent of Cavalier players who participated in the camp on Sunday.
Calvary Day has been at the heart of the growth of the sport in the Greater Savannah area. The Cavs are the only local team that has won a state title, as they took home the Division I crown in 2020, the first year the sport was sanctioned by the GHSA.
The Cavs have been active this summer, taking a trip to Canton, Ohio to play in the Unrivaled Flag Football Nationals, where Kitchen earned All-Tournament honors.
Last year, she caught 54 passes for 717 yards and nine touchdowns in her first year on the Calvary Day varsity squad that reached the state quarterfinals.
“I started playing because I had a lot of friends that were playing and I like the intensity of it,” said Kitchen, who also plays volleyball and runs on the Cavalier track and field team. “I think this camp has brought everyone together to learn more about the sport. We’re looking forward to the high school season ― that playoff loss we had is going to motivate us for the year.”
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Flag football camp from ‘The Factory’ draws 200 athletes in Savannah
