All good things must come to an end, and that was the case when Merced (Calif.) handed top-ranked Central-Phenix City flag football its first loss in nearly four years.
The Red Devils' 20-12 loss to the Bears on Friday, Sept. 11, ended their 62-game winning streak that dates back to November 2022 when they lost to Auburn High School in the state quarterfinals during their first official season.
"If we lose a game or two or three or whatever, the goal is to be challenged in the regular season," head coach Mitchell Holt told USA TODAY Sports ahead of the season. "So, then we get to the postseason, we know what we're made of."
After years of winning, Central finally had the chance to face off against some out-of-state competition. They were just one
of just 18 teams selected to play in the inaugural MaxPreps Flag Football Showdown in San Diego from Sept. 11-12 alongside No. 2 JSerra Catholic, No. 3 Newport Harbor, No. 5 Orange Lutheran, No. 15 Sierra Canyon and No. 19 Huntington Beach.
Central has become the team to beat in Alabama in recent years, winning three-straight AHSAA Class 6A-7A state titles en route to its undefeated streak.
Merced (12-0) has yet to lose a game this season, making it one of the top teams in California. The Bears are led by senior quarterback Antonia Lejarde, who's thrown for 2,182 and 37 touchdowns against just three interceptions.
Central cruised past Del Norte (Calif.) 39-7 earlier in the day before falling to Merced in the afternoon.
The Red Devils joined Glacier (Mont.) as the only two teams who travelled to the tournament from outside of California.
The Red Devils hadn't lost a game since November of 2022.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Merced (CA) ends top-ranked Central's (AL) historic 62-game winning streak
