The Southeast Bulloch Lady Yellow Jackets recently returned from a landmark trip to Canton, Ohio, where they competed in the inaugural Unrivaled Flag High School Girls National Tournament at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. One of just eight teams selected from across the country, and the only one from Georgia, SEB used the experience to grow as a team while representing their state with pride.
Head Coach Marci Cochran said the opportunity was an honor for the program and a meaningful experience for the athletes.
“We felt privileged to represent not only SEB but the whole state of Georgia,” Cochran said. “We took pride knowing we were the only team from Georgia there and played our hearts out. It was fun meeting other coaches from around the nation, and the players had fun interacting with athletes from all over the country.”
Cochran said the team’s performance on the field and their exposure to different play styles will directly impact their preparations for next season.
“The experience in Canton is going to help us greatly,” she said. “We’ll lean on what we learned to make another run at the state title. There were a lot of good teams there and great athletes. We saw new offensive schemes, and we’ll take some of that to improve our offense.”
Among the biggest challenges SEB faced was the speed of opposing teams and the complexity of their route designs.
“Speed was one of the biggest differences we saw,” Cochran explained. “The top teams had tons of speed, which we haven’t really seen in Georgia. Another was double routes—they ran them so well, and it was hard for us to adjust. One of the biggest things we learned is that our route running and timing have to be better, and defensively we have to do a better job covering those routes.”
Despite the tough competition, Cochran said her players handled the national spotlight with composure and professionalism.
“They’re used to big-time pressure situations, and this was another level—but they handled it great,” she said. “Every team there told us they knew who we were and were hoping they didn’t have to play us. Our girls even complimented players on different teams, and all the coaches said that was one of their favorite parts of the tournament.”
With four consecutive state championships already under their belt, the Yellow Jackets are turning their attention to what Cochran calls the “drive for five.”
“We recorded every game and will be showing the girls where our weaknesses are and how to improve,” she said. “Team bonding was also a big plus while we were there, and we’ll rely on each other as we make the drive for five next season. Everyone’s going to give us their best shot, and we’re going to have to lean on each other if we want to win another championship.”
The team’s next stop will be the Jacksonville Jaguars Nike Girls Flag Tournament on June 28, where they’ll continue testing themselves against elite competition ahead of the fall season.
