It's shocking for seniors Frances Rogers and Avery Sadler that they'll be playing flag football in front of a televised audience come Aug. 20 against the nations best team in Central-Phenix City. Montgomery Catholic and Central-Phenix City are the first flag football teams to play in the AHSAA Kickoff Classic alongside other respected football programs in Thompson and Central-Phenix City. "Obviously, me joining flag football, I never expected to be where we are today," Sadler told the Montgomery Advertiser at AHSAA Kickoff press conference on Thursday, Aug. 13. "But I think it's as great accomplishment to really show people what flag football is all about." Sadler and Rogers have been with the Montgomery Catholic flag football team and coach Whitney Toole since the beginning of the program. The Knights have been apart of three state championship games, including a state title in 2024. For Toole, seeing the AHSAA Kickoff Classic graphic with her Knights at the forefront is an exciting moment. It's an opportunity to reap the reward of her hard work from the beginning to this moment. "It's exciting to see them get the recognition because we set the standard and they've maintained that standard," Toole said. The AHSAA Kickoff Classic is just one of many opportunities flag football has given both Rogers and Sadler. They've seen former teammate Anna Russo receive a scholarship to play at the Division I level — it's something the pair is open to if such opportunity presents itself. "It's been fun to see our growth in the sport, and we're really competitive and it just goes to show what we can do in this sport," Rogers said. Last season, the Knights opened up their season facing the Red Devils at Montgomery Catholic, and nearly snapped Central-Phenix City's winning streak. But Montgomery Catholic lost by only a touchdown. The Knights are excited for this moment, and Toole hopes this Kickoff Classic is the first of many that features flag football teams. But the vision is the same once they take the field against the nation's best. "This moment is great, and we don't want to understate that. But this is also a meaningful game to us, and we have the mindset that we want to win," Toole said. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE REUNION?: Could public, private schools reunite under AHSAA in two years? NEW AHSAA KICKOFF CLASSIC SITE: Why the AHSAA Kickoff Classic has a new host site in 2026
Jaeden Day covers high school sports, Alabama State football and Auburn recruiting for the Montgomery Advertiser/USA Today. You can find him on X at dayjaeden12, or reach him at JDay@montgome.gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: What AHSAA Kickoff Classic means to Montgomery Catholic flag football