Boaz flag football team a win away from becoming the first Boaz football team to make state final
By TAYLOR BECK, Sports Editor
A slow start didn’t shake No. 5 Boaz. Instead, the Lady Pirates responded with a relentless effort led by quarterback Peyton Hall to power past John Carroll 25-12 in a Class 1A–5A quarterfinal showdown.
Boaz (14-1) fell behind 12-0 early Thursday in Homewood but never blinked, reeling off 25 unanswered points to punch its ticket to the semifinals in just the program’s second season.
Hall was electric, rushing for 146 yards and all four Boaz touchdowns on just 15 carries. She also went 8-of-14 passing for 55 yards.
Piper Hales added 38 rushing yards on four carries, while Addison Bowlin hauled in four catches for 12 yards. Arleigh Kate Mitchell provided a spark as well with three receptions for 39 yards.
Boaz’s defense tightened after the Cavaliers’ fast start and never allowed John Carroll to regain momentum. Hall anchored the unit with 18 flag pulls, including a sack. Hales added two pulls and a sack, while Peyton Manders also recorded a sack. Braelyn Burke snagged an interception and added a pull, and Lexie Bennett disrupted the passing game with four pass deflections.
With the victory, Boaz moves into the semifinals of the Class 1A–5A state playoffs for the first time — and are now just one win away from earning a spot in the state championship game.
The Lady Pirates will host top-ranked Moody (20-3) on Wednesday at L.F. Corley Jr. Stadium in Boaz, with kickoff set for 6 p.m.
Moody advanced with a 41-12 win over Northside.
Boaz has a history with Moody. Wednesday’s meeting will be a rematch of the Lady Pirates’ only loss this season — a 31-0 defeat on Sept. 8, just three games into their 2025 campaign. And last season, Moody eliminated Boaz in the quarterfinals.
A victory would put Boaz in the state championship game Dec. 3 in Birmingham. No Boaz football team — boys or girls — has made it to a state title game.
Elsewhere in the state, defending Class 6A/7A state champion Central-Phenix City (18-0) was to host region rival Smiths Station (13-3) and Vestavia Hills (27-1) welcomed Spain Park (15-5) in the other semifinal.
In the other Class 1A-5A semifinal, defending state champion Montgomery Catholic (20-4) hosted Brewbaker Tech (14-3) Tuesday night in the South semifinals.
David Holtsford contributed to this report.
Coach Will Penton hugs his players after during a Boaz flag football victory over Albertville on Oct. 30. The Pirates have beaten Fultondale (46-0), Wenonah (27-6) and John Carroll Catholic (25-12) to reach the semifinals of the Class 1A-5A state playoffs and will host Moody at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Dr. L.F. Corley Jr. Stadium. TAYLOR BECK l The Leader
