Is Charlotte private school football pioneer following in the footsteps of High Point Central pioneer of 1995?

By Richard Walker

Earlier this season, Providence Day’s sophomore kicker Sydney McCorkle set history by becoming the first girl to play football in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association.

McCorkle made her debut in the Chargers’ 48-0 season-opening win over Charlotte Latin on Oct. 2 when she made three kickoffs and converted two extra points.

High Point Central’s Snow Brenner (22) kicks off during the second quarter of the 1995 N.C. 3A championship game at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. [News and Observer photo]

For the season, McCorkle has kicked off six times and converted four extra points for Providence Day.

When the No. 2-seeded Chargers (4-1) start their state playoffs at home against Rabun Gap (6-1) tonight in the state playoffs, she’ll set history again as the first girl to play in the football postseason.

It also brings back reminders of 30 years ago when the N.C. High School Athletic Association saw its first girls football player in Greensboro Dudley kicker Britt Chastain in 1990.

And 25 years ago, High Point Central female kicker Snow Brenner not only was the first girl to play in a state championship game, she was the reason her team made it that far.

Brenner’s 21-yards field goal with nine seconds left gave High Point Central a 16-14 victory over Shelby at Blanton Memorial Stadium in the Western N.C. 3A championship game. The Bison would finish 14-1 overall the next week after losing 38-34 to Bertie County in the N.C. 3A title game; Brenner converted two extra points in the contest.