Through eight games, you’d be hard pressed to find a flag football team off to a more dominant start than Pace Academy.

Sitting at 8-0, the Knights have outscored their opponents 302-19, including six shutouts on the defensive side.

Head coach Ty Johnson isn’t surprised by her team’s fast start, but for a group that had a great amount of roster turnover, it may be the state’s most impressive story.

“I’m very proud of the girls and how they’ve come together,” Johnson said. “We graduated nine seniors last year, seven of them starters. So, we are kind of in a plug-and-play situation, and the girls have really stepped up to the plate.”

Johnson, alongside key assistant Felicia Slaton, have been fixtures on the Knights sideline since the inception of the program in 2020, leading Pace to a 60-10-1 overall mark. Coming off last season’s 19-3 record and Elite Eight appearance, a pair of returners have guided the 2024 squad to another stellar start.

“Our quarterback Harper Auchincloss is a senior this year, and she’s developed so much over the years as a player and more so as a leader,” Johnson said. “She’s really come ready to play this year as a captain. She’s having a wonderful year with good reads, using her legs and just motivating the girls.’

Another senior is Audrey Welch, who is just coming back from an injury.

“Being on that sideline is hard, but she’s done a great job still leading the girls and getting everybody in the right spots,” Johnson said. “I’ve been blessed with two very important seniors this year.”

To go along with the high scoring offense (37.8 points per game), it’s Johnson’s defense that’s turning heads. Pace is allowing fewer than three points per game.

“We have a very, very athletic, but younger defense,” Johnson said. “They’re led by two of our junior captains, Kiyah Burrell and Katie Durant. They’ve both done a great job leading us in flag pulls and interceptions. Our third junior Reign Sherrell has been awesome at the safety position, as well. That class of juniors has really stepped up on that side of the ball this year.”

Over the four years, Johnson has seen a steady increase in the sport’s interest at Pace. Beginning with 16 kids at the first tryout, to having 45 girls vie for a spot this season, it’s a trajectory that should have the Knights contending for years to come.

“The game of flag football has gained so much respect,” Johnson added. “It’s such a fun sport for these girls, who have been playing the same sports their whole lives. It’s almost like a break for them. They get to come in and be competitive, but also have fun with it. That’s been our motto at Pace. Come out, play hard, and if you do that, we’ll have fun. That’s kind of the environment we have created. It’s really a sisterhood that we’ve grown and that’s what I’m most proud of. … The girls feel like they have a home now, which is great.”

Fresh off a 21-7 win over Dunwoody and a 39-0 rout of King’s Ridge Christian, the Knights will prepare for Marist and Decatur on Thursday.

This week on GPB: A triple-header at McEachern on Wednesday will be live streamed on GPB.org. McEachern will play Hughes at 5:30 p.m., Hughes will play Walton at 6:30 p.m., and McEachern will play Walton at 7:30 p.m.

Click here to watch a replay of last week’s flag football game between Dacula, North Oconee and Rockdale County. All previously streamed flag games are available on GPB.org.