On Tuesday, September 9th, 2025, in their first and only home game of the season, the Lady Raiders played against the High Point Eagles. This game marked the start of the newly created Lady Raiders flag football team. Now with a 4-1 winning record, here’s looking back on the team’s effort for the beginning of a strong start.
Everyone knows the importance and excitement of the first games of a team’s season. Especially for a new team, the stakes are even higher. Lady Raider #4 wide receiver Alysaa Samuells told us, ”One of the most important games of the season is the very first one. That’s the game where you make your statement for the season, and it shows what the season holds for your team.” Thus, the stakes are high for this new team as a strong start is important for building momentum, confidence, and success.
Kickoff starts, and the Raiders start with the ball. In quick succession and with quick coordination, the Raiders moved up the field. This effort eventually led to a nice and easy touchdown by the Raiders, and an extra point conversion allowed the team to lead 7-0. On defense, the Raiders don’t stop the momentum either and prevent the Eagles from executing any plays, giving the Raiders the ball back. On offense, the Raiders keep the ball moving, and a touchdown is caught by #3 Madison Mallory to raise the score to 14-0.
In the second quarter, things continued to go well for the Raiders. Possessions from the High Point Eagles are being stopped due to the combined efforts of the team, and the Raiders are not letting anything slip past them. Offense from the Raiders is moving well, which eventually converts into a nice rushing touchdown by #4 Alyssa Samuells, ending the half 28-0. Emotions are running high for the team, but the players make sure not to let it get to their heads. Samuells highlights, “I try not to think about things that don’t matter and keep my mind in the game.” Taking attention away from the game to hear the thoughts of the fans, sophomore Aaliyah Patterson exclaimed, “I saw the practices and knew they’re very dedicated and gonna go far.”
Coming back from halftime, the score is 28-0, and the Eagles show they’re still in the game with an unexpected interception caught by #20. But the Raiders keep a tight defense and stop the Eagles before they reach the end zone. The trend continues, and the Raiders stop the Eagles from scoring from it. The Raiders score one last time in the fourth quarter, and the game is concluded 34-0.
As a viewer of the game, and with nothing to expect, the team confidently blew the expectations of everyone. But what might’ve been shocking for those in the stands was light work for the Lady Raiders as Samuells explained, “we practice as we play.” Understanding the key to the Raiders success comes down to practice, and Head Coach Lindsay Johnson emphasized “practic[ing] the basics, try[ing] to find where to place athletes and others in special spaces to excel to their strengths.” From there, Samuells stated “we execut[ed] the plays we ha[d] installed, and used our skills to win as a team,” which is key for the mentality of the team.
This was only the beginning for the Lady Raiders as they continued to strive, work hard, and play hard as their season continued. The Lady Raiders continued their strong start, picking up wins against Potomac, Duval, Laurel, and in a close battle with Wise. Though their season is coming to an end, the Lady Raiders will not slow down and continue to show great teamwork and effort. Tonight the Lady Raiders go against the Flower’s Jaguars, and as Coach Johnson perfectly puts it: “expect exciting football, passion, desire, discipline, and a lot of wins.”