When the TSSAA Girls’ Flag Football state tournament gets underway in Murfreesboro on Thursday, 16 region winners will take the field vying for championships in two classes for the first time.
But who are some of the players from area teams who could shape their team’s title hopes? We highlighted one player from each team in the 615 Preps coverage area to keep an eye on this week. Stats were provided by coaches where available.
Brooklyn Donohue, Sr., Mt. Juliet: The Region 4-AA MVP commands respect on both sides of the ball. The senior has an extra gear that helps her accelerate on the edge to go with an uncanny ability to make defenders miss. She racked up 1,184 rushing yards and 17 scores in the regular season. She is also a reliable outlet for quarterback Addy Osborne, catching 24 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, she is just as active, with nearly half of her 66 flag pulls going for a loss, including eight sacks. Two of her three interceptions have gone for scores.
Caroline Merville, Sr., Ravenwood – The defending champions are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, but when you look for impact, you must look at the Region 6-AA MVP. Coach Ricky Rodriguez considers her “the best GFF player in the state.” Dangerous rushing or passing, her biggest talent is her ability to diagnose plays on both sides of the ball. She is rarely out of position to make a play.
Madison Nettles, Jr., Blackman – One of the most acrobatic and multi-faceted players in the mid-state, “MJ” holds several offers to play flag football at the next level. Her tall frame allows her to get to balls many cannot, and her smooth gait is incredibly deceptive. Nettles has collected 67 receptions for 1,097 yards and 20 receiving touchdowns. Coach Holman moves her around, and she can play anywhere on the field, from center to wide receiver to rusher to quarterback. She is dangerous from the “wildcat” position, with six rushing TD’s on 21 carries. Defensively she has 43 flag pulls, eight interceptions and two defensive touchdowns.
Emma Kate O’Neill, Jr., Merrol Hyde – At 5 feet, 10 inches tall, O’Neill is hard to miss on the basketball court. In the defensive backfield, she is certainly hard to avoid. Her height and long strides make her an excellent target for the Lady Hawks’ offense. She can get to passes in traffic on both sides of the ball, as proven in the region final against White House where she was responsible for five scores, including three interceptions.
Emoni Haynes-Overton, Soph., Pearl-Cohn: The Firebirds have a lot of athletic talent on the field, but none as smooth as Overton. She can change the game on both sides of the ball with her ability to adjust mid-catch and her excellent ball-hawking skills. Her run after catch ability combined with her speed make her a danger to score at any point. Throw at her at your own risk.
Erica Perkins, Sr., Overton – “Trae,” as she is known, is a tremendous athlete who rarely comes off the field. Defensively, she has 14 interceptions for 236 yards and five touchdowns, including the game-winner that propelled the Lady Bobcats into the state tournament. Offensively, she has 22 receptions for 300 receiving yards and seven more scores. She is also the team’s punter. A Virginia Union commit, her future may be on the hardwood, but she will look to help her team win it all on the gridiron first.
Aubrey Spain, Jr., Gordonsville: The Lady Tigers’ defense held all but four of their 16 opponents to single digits thanks in large part to Spain’s speed and flag-pulling ability. Much like the “Freak,” Jevon Kearse, her long arms and ability to move from sideline-to-sideline allow her to create negative plays for the opposition. This season she has 85 flag pulls, 35 of those for loss. Spain shows up in pass defense as well with 3 interceptions and a pick-six. Offensively, she is a tremendous asset, with 850 yards of total offense, 13 touchdowns and a punt return for TD.
Hollie Wilson, Jr., Creek Wood – On a team that pitched seven shutouts this year, Wilson was a standout. Her track background and hurdling abilities have landed her an offer with Cumberland University, and those skills have transferred well to football. Her 22 interceptions, 33 flag pulls, 13 pass deflections and four defensive touchdowns are a large contribution to the Red Hawks’ success.
2026 State Tournament Schedule
Thursday’s pool play
Class A
Pool A (all games on Field 1)
1 p.m. – Pearl-Cohn vs. Jackson North Side
2:30 p.m. – Coalfield vs. Gordonsville
4 p.m. – Jackson North Side vs. Coalfield
5:30 p.m. – Gordonsville vs. Pearl-Cohn
7 p.m. – Jackson North Side vs. Gordonsville
8:30 p.m. – Pearl-Cohn vs. Coalfield
Pool B (all games on Field 2)
1 p.m. – Creek Wood vs. MASE
2:30 p.m. – Silverdale vs. Merrol Hyde
4 p.m. – MASE vs. Silverdale
5:30 p.m. – Merrol Hyde vs. Creek Wood
7 p.m. – MASE vs. Merrol Hyde
8:30 p.m. – Creek Wood vs. Silverdale
Class AA
Pool C (all games on Field 3)
1 p.m. – Overton vs. West Creek
2:30 p.m. – Bearden vs. Blackman
4 p.m. – West Creek vs. Bearden
5:30 p.m. – Blackman vs. Overton
7 p.m. – West Creek vs. Blackman
8:30 p.m. – Overton vs. Bearden
Pool D (all games on Field 4)
1 p.m. – Ravenwood vs. Arlington
2:30 p.m. – Walker Valley vs. Mt. Juliet
4 p.m. – Arlington vs. Walker Valley
5:30 p.m. – Mt. Juliet vs. Ravenwood
7 p.m. – Arlington vs. Mt. Juliet
8:30 p.m. – Ravenwood vs. Walker Valley
Friday’s tournament schedule
10 a.m. – Class A quarterfinals
11:30 a.m. – Class AA quarterfinals
1 p.m. – Class A semifinals
2:30 p.m. – Class AA semifinals
4 p.m. – Class A championship game
6 p.m. – Class AA championship game
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