CMS girls flag football league finale going back to Bank of America Stadium

Get ready for Big Saturday, Part II.

For the second straight season, the Carolina Panthers will host the final day of competition in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools girls flag football league at Bank of America Stadium. Admission is free, and fans can enter through the East Gate.

In all, 24 teams participated in the spring league this season, and all 24 will play Saturday (May 13), which will conclude with semifinal and championship games.

“I’m excited for them, and the girls are excited,” said CMS athletic director Ericia Turner. “Just to watch the energy when they’re playing is worth everything we went through to get this started. And it’s opened up doors, too. Last year, a young lady from Hough (High) was offered a scholarship to play flag football at the college level.”

This year, the flag football league was made up of CMS schools and Charlotte Catholic. Turner said some schools have more than one team.

“The girls are excited about playing in the Panthers stadium again,” Turner said. “Being in that stadium has been great and I hope it continues to get bigger and better.”

Nationally, flag football has been sanctioned as a varsity sport in six states. The Panthers and CMS are hoping to create enough interest to have become sanctioned in North Carolina as well as South Carolina.

Riley Fields, the Panthers’ director of community relations, said there are several school districts in both states that are planning for possible flag football leagues this fall.

“The partnership with CMS Athletics to create and grow the Girls High School Flag Football League has proven to be a significant opportunity for female student-athletes,” Fields said. “We are thrilled to provide teams with the opportunity to conclude their seasons at Bank of America Stadium and hope it is a catalyst for continued growth of the sport in our region.”

Saturday’s schedule

12:10-4:15 p.m.: Divisional playoff games

4:20-5 p.m.: Semifinals

5:20 p.m.: League championships

This story was originally published May 9, 2023 at 4:00 PM.