Ashley wins first New Hanover County girls flag football championship

New Hanover County Schools ran a successful pilot program for girls' flag football this spring. With funding help from the Carolina Panthers, the school system's four high schools competed with each other over four different game days.

On Saturday, the county's first championship event was held at Legion Stadium in Wilmington (the home field of New Hanover High School). Ashley High School's team won the championship in dominant fashion. The Eagles took down New Hanover by a score of 37-6. In the semifinal, Ashley defeated Laney by a similar disparity.

Ashley finished its first flag football season with a perfect 11-0 record. The Eagles were led by varsity football coach Dante Lombardi, who was accompanied by his father and brother on staff.

Carolina Panthers Director of Community Relations Riley Fields was on hand to help run the event and present Ashley with a banner commemorating the county championship.

In the other semifinal game, New Hanover pulled away from Rival Hoggard to set up the championship matchup with Ashley. Hoggard was able to defeat Laney in a consolation game that was played simultaneously with the championship.

A big driving force behind Ashley's success in its first season was quarterback Sawyer Rigdon, who is also one of the Screaming Eagles' better softball players. The junior has the most RBIs on the softball team this season.