{"id":778965,"date":"2026-02-27T02:47:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T02:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/778965\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T02:47:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T02:47:18","slug":"janiya-alford-becomes-first-valdosta-wildcat-to-sign-flag-football-scholarship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/778965\/","title":{"rendered":"Janiya Alford Becomes First Valdosta Wildcat to Sign Flag Football Scholarship"},"content":{"rendered":"

VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) – In a momentous celebration at Valdosta High School, athletic director Reginald Mitchell addressed the crowd with words that encapsulated the significance of the day: \u201cYou all have set the trend. And what better way to top it off than to sign a scholarship to say to your teammates, \u2018This is what\u2019s at the end of the tunnel.\u2019 So thank you for being a trailblazer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those words hung in the air as an emotional Janiya Alford stood, having just accomplished something extraordinary\u2014she became the first female Wildcat to continue flag football at the collegiate level.<\/p>\n

\"AlfordAlford makes history becoming the first Lady Cat to sign for flag football(walb)<\/p>\n

From Inaugural Team to Collegiate Athlete<\/p>\n

Alford\u2019s journey with flag football at Valdosta High began with the school\u2019s inaugural team, a program that has since become a source of pride for the athletic department. Like any new program, the first year came with growing pains, but Alford and her teammates persevered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we first started, it was a lot,\u201d Alford reflected on those early days. \u201cThe program was up and down, but the second year with Coach Turner motivating us\u2014even with losing first round of playoffs\u2014it was very fun. I\u2019ll love that team forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year brought its own challenges. Despite not making the playoffs, Alford\u2019s affection for her teammates remained unwavering. \u201cThis year was very nice,\u201d she said. \u201cEven though we didn\u2019t make the playoffs this year, I will forever love this team.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Center Takes Her Game to the Next Level<\/p>\n

During her time as the center for the Black and Gold, Alford earned All-Region honors\u2014a testament to her skill and dedication to the sport. Now, she\u2019s taking those talents to Brewton-Parker College, where she\u2019ll represent the Wildcats at the collegiate level.<\/p>\n

\"AlfordAlford makes history becoming the first Lady Cat to sign for flag football(walb)<\/p>\n

A Message for Future Wildcats<\/p>\n

As the first female Wildcat to sign a flag football scholarship, Alford is acutely aware of the role model she\u2019s become. When asked what advice she\u2019d give to young women interested in the sport, her answer was simple but powerful:<\/p>\n

\u201cBelieve in themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

That message of self-belief\u2014the same drive that carried her from her high school\u2019s inaugural season to a college scholarship\u2014will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of Lady Wildcats to pursue their dreams on the flag football field.<\/p>\n

Janiya Alford\u2019s historic signing marks a new chapter for Valdosta High School\u2019s flag football program, proving that with determination, teamwork, and self-belief, the sky is truly the limit.<\/p>\n

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