Ashley’s flag football team has put up some big offensive numbers in the first-ever state playoff, but the Eagles had to win a low-scoring battle in the championship game.

Just hours after scoring 41 points in the semifinals, Ashley erased a 7-6 halftime deficit and beat Apex 13-7 to claim the state championship.

Apex scored the first points of the game when Lindsey McKinney caught a long touchdown pass from Cosette Lavielle on fourth down. Mindy McLaughlin caught the extra-point attempt and Apex led 7-0 with 5:20 left in the first half.

Ashley immediately answered. Sawyer Rigdon completed a deep ball to Elin Bentley for the first points of the game for the Eagles. The extra-point attempt failed though and Apex led 7-6 at halftime.

The defense stepped up in the second half for Ashley, holding Apex scoreless. Rigdon scored the game-winning touchdown on a short run, then completed a pass to Addison Foland for the extra point. That gave Ashley its first lead of the game at 13-7, which held through the end of the half.

Rigdon was named the Most Valuable Player of the state championship game. Her teammate, Mia Agrillo, was named the Defensive Most Outstanding Player. Apex’s McKinney won the Offensive Most Outstanding Player award.

The flag football state playoff was a first of it’s kind event. The sport is not officially sanctioned by the N.C. High School Athletic Association, so the state championship is an unofficial title.

Flag football is one of the fastest growing high school sports in the country. The Carolina Panthers have invested money in the sport in North Carolina. Panthers representative Riley Fields was at the state championship event and told the crowd the NFL franchise hopes to see the sport sanctioned in North Carolina very soon. The Panthers say 119 high schools in the state are participating in the sport this year.

The NCHSAA Board of Directors had a proposal to sanction the sport at its meeting this past week, but declined to take the matter up for a vote.

HighSchoolOT will have much more coverage from the flag football championship day, including photo galleries, highlights, interviews and more.

Flag Football Final Four Results

Championship Game: Ashley 13, Apex 7

Third Place Game: Wakefield 19, Apex Friendship 2

Semifinal: Ashley 41, Wakefield 13

Semifinal: Apex 14, Apex Friendship 7