DURHAM, N.C. – The Barton flag football team (11-3) saw its successful first season come to a close with a 32-18 setback to Wingate (10-2) Saturday afternoon in the semifinals of the 2026 Conference Carolinas Championship at Durham County Memorial Stadium.
Wingate, the top seed in the tournament, will take on second-seed Ferrum (18-3) in the inaugural league championship on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Barton was the fourth seed in the tournament.
Wingate's Jhenelle Francis (Apopka, Fla.) passed for 182 yards and four touchdowns to go along with a rushing touchdown in the victory.
Barton freshman quarterback
Sawyer Rigdon (Wilmington, N.C.) did pass for 327 yards and three touchdowns but was picked off three times including twice by Wingate's Addison Morgan (Webster, N.Y.).
Freshman athlete
Valerie-Ange Batta (Durham, N.C.) was Rigdon's top target, catching 14 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns in the losing effort.
