Soddy Daisy High School senior Skylar Gooden has been a menace throughout her softball career out of the left-handed batter’s box. Now her athleticism is shining in between the white lines on the football field.
The Lady Trojans have been an immovable force in their inaugural flag football season as they are 10-0 and one win away from claiming the first Hamilton County School’s flag football city championship after defeating Signal Mountain, 38-6, in the semifinals Tuesday night. Soddy Daisy will face Tyner in Thursday’s 6:30 title game at CSLA.
Gooden’s lights-out play at safety and quarterback has helped pave the way to lopsided wins, which included a 38-0 home victory over Brainerd to begin the playoffs in which she threw a 15-yard touchdown to sophomore Macie Diehl, rushed for a touchdown and also had a leaping interception she returned for a 46-yard score.
“We have had a great first season of flag football and have had a great team connection. A lot of us play softball together, so that made the camaraderie easy,” said Gooden, a Georgia State University softball signee who has batted over .450 in her career with over 100 stolen bases and runs scored.
“We have had a lot of fun and worked hard. To win the first flag football championship in Hamilton County would be special, especially winning it for our school and helping people take notice of the sport even more. Everyone is trying to beat us, so we have to remain focused.”