By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald

GUYTON – Turner Davis’ ears perked up. Exactly what did he just hear?

“So you’re going to take us to the promised land in flag football,” said then-South Effingham athletic director Nick Smith.

Davis, a former-Mustang standout in baseball and football, had just gotten a full-time job teaching in the school district. He was a willing coach, but taking over flag football?

“I didn’t know what I had entered,” Davis admitted.

But he embraced the new challenge. He said his competitive side kicked in.

“If I’m going to play something, I’m going to play to win,” said Davis, who was recently named Division 3, Area 1 Coach of the Year in a voting of his peers.

Davis, in his second year as head coach, directed the Mustangs to a school single-season record 12 wins, an area championship and an Elite Eight appearance at state.

“I think coaching flag football is helping me grow as a coach,” said Davis, who also assists with varsity baseball. “It’s not just the Xs and Os and dealings with players, there’s a financial part and the daily stuff on how a program runs.”

And it helps to recruit good players, particularly for a sport foreign to most of the girls. The Georgia High School Association began sanctioning flag football in 2020.

But Davis assembled an enthusiastic group ready to learn and work. Senior Malaya Signal, a running back/cornerback, earned Area 1 Player of the Year honors after leading the team with 13 touchdowns (80 points overall) and 755 offensive yards. She also had three interceptions and 25 total tackles.

“She was the complete player. You just had to get the ball to her in the open field and she could make a juke and run for 20 yards, maybe a touchdown,” Davis said. “On defense, she was aggressive, a go-getter.”

Signal was joined by quarterback Arden Thompson and wide receiver Karianna “KK” Dorsey on the All-Area first-team.

Thompson, a junior, was a first-year starter who threw for 1,693 yards and 24 touchdowns with just five interceptions.

“Arden did a great job running the offense and she had some good targets to go to,” Davis said.

Dorsey, a freshman, was her leading target with a team-high 41 catches for 368 yards and six scores.

Sage Collier, a senior guard, was an honorable mention after hauling in 27 passes for 161 yards. She also ran for 47 yards.

On defense, rusher Allie Grassi, safety Morgan Hetzel and linebackers Jordyn Young and Hayley Tater captured first-team honors.

Middle linebacker Valencia Collins and cornerback Gracie Smith were second-teamers.

Davis said having all seven defensive starters honored – Signal was a cornerback – was fitting for a squad that registered eight shutouts.

SEHS blanked Hiram and Southwest DeKalb 7-0 and 18-0 in the first two rounds of the state playoffs.

“Teams couldn’t score because they couldn’t get anywhere,” Davis said.

Grassi, a senior, was a major disrupter on the line. She led the team with 43 tackles, 35 were sacks.

“She created a lot of havoc. She had the mentality, ‘I’m going after the quarterback until someone stops me,’” Davis said.

Grassi’s relentless pressure benefitted the secondary and Hetzel recorded eight of the team’s 14 interceptions.

Hetzel, a sophomore, also contributed 167 rushing yards and 33 catches for 208 yards and three touchdowns while pulling double duty on offense.

Young was second on the team with 34 tackles. Tater was one behind with 33.

“I thought we were well-represented on the all-area team,” Davis said. “This was a fun group to coach, and they played well together.”

ECHS girls receive honors

Effingham County’s girls also received recognition for an outstanding season. The Rebels finished with a 9-11 record, placed third in the area and advanced to state.

Junior Ivey Jenkins, sophomore Andi Cordero and junior Braylin Nease made the first-team offense and junior Brooke Burnsed and seniors Zyon Williams and Riley LaPolle were first-team defense.

Junior Baylee Hodges and sophomore Abbey Anderson were second-teamers.

In limited statistics from MaxPreps, Burnsed led the team in receptions, receiving yards and sacks. Jenkins had the most rushing yards and Williams paced the team in tackles.