Flag football Division 3: Pope 19, Pace Academy 6

Recap: Abbey Bensman threw two first-half touchdown passes to lead Pope to its second consecutive state championship. Pope became the third team in two days to repeat as flag champions, joining Monday’s winners Southeast Bulloch (fourth straight) and Greenbrier (two). After Pope and Pace Academy traded interceptions within the first 10 plays of the game, Pope established control with back-to-back scoring drives. Bensan threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Julia Acker with two minutes remaining in the first quarter, and her 23-yarder to Addie Daughtry with six minutes left in the half made it a 12-0 game. Bensman was 10-of-16 passing for 95 yards and ran for 11 yards. “You’ve got to have a QB, and we’ve got one that’s really good,” Pope coach Kevin Fraser said. “This is her sixth month ever playing, and we get a whole other year of her, being a junior, so I’m excited about next year as well.” Pace Academy’s Harper Auchincloss passed for 157 yards.

Scoring Summary

Pace Academy - 0-0-0-6 - 6

Pope - 6-6-0-7 - 19

First quarter

P - Julia Acker 6 pass from Abbey Bensman (pass failed)

Second quarter

P - Addie Daughtry 23 pass from Bensman (pass failed)

Fourth quarter

P - Sarah Gentry 1 run (Laila Nixon pass from Bensman)

PA - Lucy Fleming 13 pass from Harper Auchincloss (pass failed)