DURHAM, N.C. – The Barton flag football team (11-2) moved on to the semifinals of the 2026 Conference Carolinas Championship with a 39-31 triumph over Emmanuel (9-10) Friday afternoon in the quarterfinal round at Durham County Memorial Stadium.
Barton, the fourth seed in the tournament, will take on top-seeded Wingate (9-2) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Wingate shut out Mount Saint Mary's (7-12), 31-0, in its quarterfinal contest. The Lions were the fifth seed in the championship.
Barton freshman quarterback
Sawyer Rigdon (Wilmington, N.C.) passed for 331 yards and four touchdowns as the Bulldogs raced to a 32-6 lead in the second quarter and held off the Lions to advance in the league tournament.
Barton freshman wide receiver
Valerie-Ange Batta (Durham, N.C.) caught eight passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns and returned an interception for a score as well. Batta also had two of the Bulldogs' three picks in the victory.
Emmanuel's Lillian Stephenson (Evans, Ga.) passed for 313 yards and five touchdowns and ran for 61 yards but the Lions lost to the Bulldogs for the second time this year.
