Dawgs cap historic state run
Unfortunately for the Lady Bulldogs, that is where the momentum stopped.
BHS went 0-3 in pool play on Thursday, May 14, and lost to Ravenwood 33-12 in the state quarterfinals on Friday, May 15, to close their 2026 campaign.
Note: For reference, the same Raptors team that defeated Bearden went on to score 27 unanswered points to claim the inaugural TSSAA Class AA state title over Mt. Juliet
The format was very different than what Bearden had been used to through the regular season. While those games had been played on normal football fields, the state tournament games took place at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex with markers every 20 yards.
“I think it’s really crazy how different it is,” senior Emma Rainey said. “And a bunch of teams we played have been playing for so long, it’s amazing that we got there.”
Not only did BHS face more experienced squads, several have been playing well before the sport became official under TSSAA regulations.
They also played three games in one day last Thursday and did so while missing all their seniors since graduation was the same night.
BHS coach Zach Scott used one word to describe his team in that stretch: “fearless.”
The Lady Bulldogs lost 25-13 against Blackman in their first game, snagging two end-zone interceptions to keep the Blaze at bay. A mere four minutes later, they took the field against West Creek, falling 33-6 with quarterback Nicole Smith-Harris coming up injured.
From there, Bearden lost to Overton High School to wrap up the first day. But even with the loss, the team united at Maple Street Biscuit Company the next morning before taking on Ravenwood in the quarterfinals.
That had been the restaurant Scott pointed his team toward all year, having shown his players a picture of the Raptors eating there after their (unofficial) third-straight championship in 2025.
And while Bearden lost to RHS later on the field, breakfast together will be one of several memories that players will take from a remarkable season.
“The tournament itself was a very cool experience for our girls,” Scott said. “I just kept thinking about our first practices in October of 2024 on the soccer field, not even knowing what a hash mark or line of scrimmage was.”
“I am so proud of this team,” added Finley Wright, whose name will be inscribed on the team’s leadership award going forward, according to Scott. “We have fought through so much adversity with having our starting quarterback get injured. We truly made a name for ourselves after making it to the state tournament in our first year of playing flag football as a school-sanctioned sport, and the family environment we created with the help of our coaches will never be forgotten.”
Added team sack leader Alayna Johnson, who finished the year with 39: “I started playing flag football last year and one of the most special things about this season was witnessing the growth of the sport. Being able to play in the first fully sanctioned flag football state tournament with my teammates was a huge highlight of my senior year. It meant so much being surrounded by teammates who always lifted each other up and worked so hard together.”
