Pace flag football standouts Amaya Pablo and Emily Good sign to play at Lindsey Wilson College

Posted by author February 14, 2025 Football

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Former Pace flag football head coach Chris Raggard didn’t want to steal away from the pride he had for two of his now-former players, who were signing to play flag football at the collegiate level on Wednesday during a special ceremony at Pace High.

But he couldn’t help but ask one simple – yet one with several possible answers – question.

“So do you refer to me as their former head coach? Or their future head coach?” Raggard said with a laugh prior to both Amaya Pablo and Emily Good signing with Lindsey Wilson College, a NAIA program in Columbia, Kentucky, that is starting a flag football program, with its inaugural season in the spring of 2026.

There’s a reason why that question is important. Raggard, who started Pace’s flag football program from the ground up during the 2018-19 school year, recently stepped down from the Patriots to take a new position – at Lindsey Wilson College, becoming the Blue Raiders’ first coach in program history.

“From day one, the day I got the job, I called Amaya and Emily – and others – immediately. I said, ‘Here’s the deal. Here’s what’s going on. I want you to be a part of this.’ I think that’s going to help us build what we want to build,” Raggard said, now donning a Lindsey Wilson College hoodie. “They already have a mindset of what we’ve done here at Pace. They’re going to help us take that to a different level (at the college level).”

Both Pablo and Good, two standouts for Pace who both earned individual all-area awards from the PNJ last spring – Pablo being Co-Player of the Year and Good being Defensive Player of the Year – made it official by putting pen to paper, officially inking with Lindsey Wilson.

“I’m so excited for my college career and having Coach Raggard as my (college) coach, exploring something new with him,” Pablo said. “I’m just excited for my future.”

“It feels good now that it’s official. I feel like I can have a stress-free year for flag this year,” Good said. “It’s very good to know that when I do go to college, I’ll have a familiar face – with Amaya and Coach Raggard, knowing that I’ll have a good environment there.”

Both players were instrumental in Pace’s incredible 2024 campaign that saw the Patriots reclaim the district championship for the first time since 2022, before making it to the state semifinals in Tampa.

The Patriots fell to the eventual state champion, Palmetto, 12-6, holding the Panthers to their lowest offensive output all season long.

Raggard called it a “very special” season, given the small slump that Pace had toward the end of the regular season with losses to Navarre, Florida High and Choctaw mixed in there.

“Then we got over that hump again and won the regional championship. Then we won a state quarterfinal game, which they never had – and never will have again because of the way the classifications were set up last year – and that was very rewarding,” Raggard said. “I’m excited to hopefully see these girls get back there and potentially have a chance to win state.”

Albeit, Raggard will now be on the sidelines as he continues to prepare for his first season as a college head coach, recruiting away for Lindsey Wilson College.

“It’s going to be a little different. At the same time, I have other obligations to try to build another team and to be able to get the players we need. At the end of the day, I’m still going to be watching, cheering and rooting them on – and probably coaching under my breath a little bit,” Raggard said. “It’s going to be fun to watch them play.”

‘I’m excited for it to continue growing’

Both Pablo and Good could’ve never imagined they’d be able to play football in college.

Pablo noted she grew up playing tackle football when she was younger for a couple years after asking her parents to play. She had previously gone out and played against her little brother and his teammates.

Good said she enjoyed playing football out in the yard “ever since she was little.” Pablo was the same, and “just kept watching football and loved it.”

By the time both of them reached the high school age, flag football was in full force in the FHSAA, and Pace quickly became one of the powerhouses in the Panhandle.

“Once flag football became open, I just jump-started on that,” Pablo said.

“Their first year in high school would’ve been the year after the first NAIA season. Them coming in at that early-on state, I’m excited to see where it goes this year,” Raggard said. “Of the teams that are in the NAIA right now, we’re adding probably twice that many teams for this next year. There are twice as many schools that are adding flag football. Not just NAIA, but Division I, II and III schools. It’s interesting to see where that progression is going to go.”

The game has grown so much that flag football will also be a premier sport in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. As long as the sport stays in the Olympics, Pablo has the goal of playing for the United States some day.

“I feel blessed to be in the transition period where we’re growing. I wish we had Division I now, but I’m hoping it comes soon,” Pablo said. “I’m excited for the Olympics, seeing how it’s grown so much. … That little kid in me is so excited for myself. I always dreamed of playing football. I’m so happy that flag football has grown, and what it’s become. I’m excited for it to continue growing.”

“I never thought I’d be able to make something out of (flag football) some day,” said Good, who also plays soccer at Pace. “It makes me feel good that I’m able to continue to play.”

High expectations for their final season

After getting a taste for state Final Four last season, Pace’s team has some lofty – but realistic – goals for the 2025 season. The Patriots only graduated four seniors last year, all of who provided quality offensive and defensive numbers.

But between Pablo and Good, along with a strong supporting class of now-senior teammates and underclassmen, the 2025 season could see Pace advance to new heights.

Pablo enters her senior season having thrown for 12,757 yards in three years with 169 touchdowns. She’s also ran for 2,006 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground, while tacking on 124 yards receiving a touchdown from her junior year. She rose to become a two-way star last year, now up to 80 tackles (67 as a junior) with 11 interceptions, all last year.

“Amaya, we knew a little bit more of because she had been around the program for a few years beforehand, coming out and helping and watching,” Raggard said.

Good, who joined the varsity squad as a freshman as well, showed up when it mattered most as a first-year player in that district championship game in 2022. Ever since then, she’s been a mainstay on defense with a career 153 tackles (88 as a junior) with 11 sacks and nine interceptions. Offensively, she’s hauled in 15 receptions for 135 yards and five touchdowns.

“We saw a lot of potential from her when we were doing our (summer) drills. After that, Emily showed us a lot during tryouts,” Raggard said of Good, noting that she could have a breakout year on offense this season as well. “She was phenomenal. She was one of the reasons we won that (district championship) game. … She’s been a starter on defense ever since.”

Pace’s regular season starts on Wednesday against Pine Forest, in pursuit of another trip to Tampa at the end of the year under first-year head coach Patrick Riley, who served as an assistant coach for Raggard previously.

“I really want to push for state. I want to end on a good note. … Knowing I have flag football after high school definitely motivates me to continue, shine and keep working,” Pablo said. “Everybody’s helped me grow along the way. I always try to be better than the year before. Working with new teammates motivates me, seeing new athletes and strong athletes.”

“I want to go to state again. That was a good experience,” Good said. “This team is so special. It truly feels like a family. All of our coaches are great. I love everyone on our team. … It’s special that we were able to go so far (in the playoffs). I’m excited to try that again.”