With the Chargers sitting at 19–0, the Gardner-Webb commit opens up on the CLT Media Podcast about overcoming adversity, the importance of family, and what it would mean to capture North Carolina's first NCHSAA girls flag football state championship.
By CLT Media News | November 5, 2026
CONCORD, N.C. — For Cox Mill senior quarterback Allie Berry, the journey toward a historic state championship has become about something much bigger than wins, statistics, or individual recognition.
The undefeated Chargers have put together one of the most impressive seasons in North Carolina girls flag football, opening the year with 19 consecutive victories, including a commanding 28–0 postseason win over Rocky River.
But during a recent appearance on the CLT Media Podcast, Berry revealed that the team's championship aspirations have been shaped as much by adversity, accountability, and personal growth as they have by their success on the field.
"I think playing quarterback comes with a lot of pressure," Berry said. "But I also think that having pressure is a privilege."
It's a philosophy that has helped define both her leadership and Cox Mill's remarkable season.
From a YMCA Team to One of North Carolina's Top Quarterbacks
Berry's football journey began when she was just nine years old.
She and her best friend decided to join a boys flag football team at their local YMCA, where they were the only two girls on the roster.
What started as a childhood activity eventually developed into a passion that would create opportunities neither could have imagined.
"I just love playing football," Berry recalled. "It was always fun, but I didn't really get serious about it until freshman year."
That was when the Carolina Panthers helped establish a flag football club program at Cox Mill, providing Berry with an opportunity to compete for her high school.
Her father, Brandon Berry, stepped forward to coach the team, beginning a four-year journey that has transformed both the program and his daughter's athletic future.
Now a senior, Berry has committed to continue her flag football career at Gardner-Webb University, where she says she has earned a full scholarship.
Her performance on the field has been equally impressive.
According to Carolina Varsity's latest reported statistics, Berry has accumulated 3,626 total offensive yards, including 2,453 passing yards and 1,173 rushing yards through 19 games.
Those numbers have helped establish her among the state's most productive offensive players.
Yet Berry insists the most rewarding moments of playing quarterback aren't necessarily the ones that appear on a highlight reel.
"When you get a great ball to someone and they score their first touchdown, those are the moments that just feel really rewarding to me," she explained.
The Moment Cox Mill Became a Championship-Minded Team
Despite its undefeated record, Cox Mill's season has not been without challenges.
Berry described a series of injuries that affected several important contributors, including a top receiver, the team's starting safety, and other players dealing with significant setbacks.
The injuries forced the Chargers to adjust while testing their chemistry and resilience.
"It was definitely hard to have those people that were rocks on our team no longer being able to play," Berry said.
Rather than allowing those challenges to derail their season, the Chargers continued winning.
But Berry identified a different moment as the team's true turning point.
With Cox Mill sitting at 15–0, the team gathered for a film session when assistant coach Nate shared a story about his own high school athletic experience.
The story centered on a difficult decision: pursue an individual championship in the high jump or sacrifice that opportunity to help a relay team potentially win a championship together.
For Berry, the message resonated.
"We all kind of switched our mindsets from it being like a me game to an us game," she explained.
It was a defining moment for a team loaded with talent and individual playmakers.
Berry believes Cox Mill's greatest strength is its ability to create opportunities across the field rather than relying on a single standout athlete.
"When you play Cox Mill, you're watching everyone. Everyone's a threat," she said.
She was particularly quick to recognize the Chargers' defense, praising the team's pass rushers, safeties, and the contributions of her receivers.
"It's not all just me," Berry emphasized.
The Pressure of Being 19–0
An undefeated record brings recognition, but it also creates expectations.
As Cox Mill prepares for the next stage of the postseason, Berry understands that every opponent will have extra motivation to end the Chargers' championship pursuit.
Still, she refuses to allow the team's record to become a distraction.
"When you're in playoffs, it's an even playing field," Berry said.
Her message to her teammates has remained consistent: stay humble, prepare seriously, and never assume that previous victories guarantee future success.
The Chargers' preparation includes reviewing film, evaluating individual performances, and maintaining accountability throughout practice.
Berry believes that commitment will ultimately determine whether Cox Mill can complete its historic run.
"If we all stay locked in and we continue to go out there and do our jobs, there's no reason that we wouldn't win a state championship," she said.
But she also acknowledged that the road ahead will become increasingly difficult as the level of competition rises.
Playing for Something Bigger Than Football
For Berry, the opportunity to compete for the inaugural NCHSAA girls flag football state championship carries tremendous personal significance.
North Carolina's decision to sanction the sport has opened a new chapter for female athletes throughout the state.
Berry remembers growing up without a girls flag football team to join. Now, she sees young girls developing their own passion for the game and pursuing opportunities that once seemed out of reach.
"I like being a trailblazer and I like being a name that people can look up to," she said during the podcast.
The significance of this particular season is especially meaningful because it is also Berry's final year playing for her father.
Her father has coached her throughout her high school career, teaching her the fundamentals of the position and helping guide her development.
Berry also credited her mother for making sacrifices that allowed the family to support her athletic ambitions.
"Both my parents have been huge," she said.
That family support has helped shape the perspective she carries into competition.
For Berry, effort, attitude, and character have become just as important as touchdowns and victories.
A Legacy Beyond the Statistics
Perhaps the most revealing moment of Berry's interview came when she was asked what this season had taught her about herself.
Despite the attention surrounding her individual performances, Berry acknowledged the temptation to become overly focused on statistics, rankings, and social media recognition.
"This season has taught me that there's a lot more than stats," she said.
She explained that while impressive numbers can earn recognition, they do not necessarily define the impact an athlete leaves behind.
Instead, Berry wants younger teammates to remember how she treated them, encouraged them, and helped them improve.
She would rather be remembered as the teammate who offered support after a dropped pass or made someone feel included than simply the quarterback who accumulated thousands of passing yards.
It's a perspective that reflects the maturity of an athlete preparing for the next chapter of her career.
And that next chapter will bring an entirely new challenge.
At Gardner-Webb, Berry understands she will no longer be guaranteed a starting position or automatically be considered one of the most experienced players on the field.
Surprisingly, that's exactly what excites her.
"I'm really excited to not have a given starting position," she said.
She looks forward to competing alongside talented college athletes, learning from more experienced players, and earning whatever role she receives.
"I'm excited to learn from girls who have been playing in college for years," Berry explained.
The Work Behind the Opportunity
When asked what advice she would give younger girls hoping to follow in her footsteps, Berry delivered a message rooted in both passion and discipline.
She described traveling an hour each way to work with her quarterback trainer multiple times per week during the offseason.
Those sacrifices, she explained, are part of what separates athletes who simply enjoy a sport from those willing to pursue their highest potential.
But her first piece of advice wasn't about scholarships or statistics.
It was about loving the game.
"I just love playing. And I do it because I love doing it," Berry said.
Her message to aspiring athletes was clear: find something you genuinely enjoy, then commit to improving every day.
At nine years old, Berry never imagined that playing flag football at a YMCA would eventually lead to a Division I scholarship.
Now, she hopes her journey can help other girls recognize what's possible.
A Historic Opportunity Awaits
Cox Mill's pursuit of a state championship continues Saturday, November 7, when the Chargers face Ballantyne Ridge in the next round of the NCHSAA 7A playoffs.
The matchup is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Cox Mill High School.
The inaugural NCHSAA flag football state championships are set for November 14 at Helen & Leonard Moretz Stadium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University.
For Berry, a championship would represent the culmination of four years of dedication, the sacrifices of her family, and the efforts of teammates who have worked together to build something special.
It would also provide a storybook ending to her final season playing for her father.
And while the possibility of lifting a championship trophy certainly excites her, Berry understands that the significance would extend far beyond Cox Mill.
A state title would become part of the foundation for a rapidly growing sport and provide another example of what's possible for the next generation of female athletes.
For now, the Chargers have more football to play.
And Berry has one final opportunity to turn an already remarkable high school career into a historic championship run.
Watch the Full Interview
Catch Allie Berry's complete conversation on the CLT Media Podcast, where she discusses Cox Mill's undefeated season, leadership, family, recruiting journey, and the future of girls flag football in North Carolina.
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