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Maddox dual threat for Eagles’ Final Four run

By Randy Lefko Sports Editor
Posted 6/15/22

FLEMING ISLAND - Fleming Island High flag football quarterback Mykayla Maddox was the master of floating behind the line of scrimmage, surveying her downfield receivers and making that split decision …

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Maddox dual threat for Eagles’ Final Four run


Posted

FLEMING ISLAND - Fleming Island High flag football quarterback Mykayla Maddox was the master of floating behind the line of scrimmage, surveying her downfield receivers and making that split decision to throw or run.

“Mykayla was a tremendous all around player in terms of knowing when to pass and run especially around the end zone,” said Fleming Island flags coach Clinton Lyons. “She was also lights out on defense with eight interceptions and four went for a pick six. Just a great all around flag football player.”

On the flanks of the Golden Eagles’ offense, Maddox’s movements were key to the Fleming Island 16 wins, two losses season with a final stop in the Class 2A state semifinal game; a loss to eventual Class 2A champion Western High School.

For her efforts to lead the Eagles, Maddox is named the Clay Today Super 6 flag football player of the year.

Maddox finished with 2400 yards passing with 40 scores and just five interceptions while rushing for 465 yards to lead the Clint Lyons offense in both categories.

The Clay Today SUPER 6 roster; offense and defense top six athletes; two quarterbacks, two receivers, two wide receivers on offense and two rushers, two linebackers and two secondary athletes, were chosen by the Clay Today sports writing staff for their outstanding play all season plus their role on their respective teams.

At quarterback, with Maddox excluded as Player of Year, Middleburg High’s Brooke Swenson was the Broncos gunslinger all year for the Lady Broncos (16-1) who finished unbeaten until their region final in Class 1A with a lone loss (14-0) to eventual state runnerup Choctowhatchee. Choctawhatchee loss to six-time champion Tampa Robinson.

Also at Quarterback, Clay High’s Dakota Hills kept the Blue Devils moving downfield, but Clay had the unfortunate luck of being in the same district as Middleburg. They accounted for three losses of the five for coach Jared Moses.

In the backfield, Fleming Island’s speedy Rose Martin was the go-to ball carrier with her slashes off jet sweeps to put the Fleming Island offense in the red zone. At Middleburg, it was all about getting the ball into Laura Palagyi’s hands. Palagyi was a sly, tackle-slipping ball carrier that got downfield for gains with slick break away speed.

On the passing end of the offenses, Ridgeview coach Trentin Davis more than often found the long arms of Mia-Bell Gutierrez at the finishing end of vertical pass plays; 11 touchdowns receptions, for the Lady Panthers.

With probably the stickiest fingers in the county, Middleburg High’s Cheyenne Jenkins was the clutch target for Swenson in a pinch with Jenkins making more than a few high-traffic catches for coach Jay Stilianou.

On defense, the “Terminator”, Middleburg High’s Desiree Hall was one of fastest backfield disrupters for the Lady Broncos while, with Paetyn Miller manning the front of the Ridgeview defense. Miller had an astounding 87 tackles with three safeties and four interceptions.

At linebacker, Fleming Island had Gabby Musa as their main chaos creator in space with 55 tackles for the year and four sacks plus five interceptions while Clay High’s Shelby McClain chased and sacked for the Blue Devils; 41 tackles, one sack and two interceptions with five pass knockdowns behind the line of scrimmage.

In the secondary, Ridgeview’s top pass stealer was Emma Rayes with a dozen picks and nine pass breakups. Rayes also got three safeties off secondary blitzes for defensive coach David Smashum.

Fleming Island’s Maddox understood the enemy quarterbacks with a bit of her own knowledge as an elite quarterback to become a top secondary player with four interceptions returned for touchdowns off her eight picks.