North Oconee flag football faces Whitewater in GHSA state finals
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North Oconee flag football is headed back to Mercedes Benz Stadium for a third straight year.
The Titans defeated a literal titan in Southeast Bulloch, 21-20, in the semifinals to punch their ticket. Southeast Bulloch is 100-3 since its inception in 2021 and are four-time state champions, having defeated North Oconee for the 2023 title.
North Oconee is in its fourth year as a program, led by second-year head coach Nicole O’Mara, and coming into the matchup ranked No. 1 in the state, No. 13 nationally with a 22-3 record.
It will face Georgia’s No. 19 ranked Whitewater (23-3) for the first time ever.
The Wildcats are led by senior quarterback Jaelyn Stanley, who has thrown 324 completions (on 616 attempts) for 2,995 yards, 48 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. She’s also added 530 yards on the ground for 11 more scores.
Their run game is strong with Stanley, while sophomore Emma Morgan and senior Lynn Thompson have the receiving corps on lock with a combined 244 catches for 1,907 yards and 34 touchdowns. Sophomore Madyson Rhone adds 47 catches for 555 yards and 11 touchdowns to round out the top three receivers.
Whitewater has 54 receiving and 24 rushing touchdowns.
On defense, Morgan has 96 solo tackles, averaging 4.2 per game, and seniors Anna Turner and Julia Hudson have a combined 38 sacks, 129 tackles. Thompson has 16 interceptions, sophomore Parker Sopp adds 10 more herself and Morgan another 8.
Whitewater is outscoring its opponents 617-130 and has recorded 15 shutouts, three in the playoffs alone.
North Oconee is outscoring its opponents 689-225.
North Oconee and Whitewater will play on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m. for the Division 3 state title in Atlanta. Neither team have won a ring before.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: North Oconee vs. Whitewater in GHSA Division 3 flag football finals
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