Hoggard claims fourth straight Carolina Coast Conference title with win over Ashley
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Hoggard Vikings capped off their regular season with a win over crosstown rival Ashley on Friday night, securing their fourth consecutive Carolina Coast Conference championship and finishing undefeated in conference play.
With a share of the conference title on the line, Ashley entered the matchup looking to spoil Hoggard’s senior night and end the Vikings’ unbeaten conference run. The Screaming Eagles struck first when Tyson Hammonds recovered a blocked kick and returned it for a touchdown, giving Ashley an early 6-0 lead.
Hoggard quickly responded with some trickery. Quarterback Matthew Boring connected with Judah Gillespie, who lateraled the ball back to Boring. The quarterback took it into the end zone for a touchdown, putting the Vikings ahead 7-6.
Boring continued to lead the offense, connecting with tight end Nakula O’Connor for another touchdown to give Hoggard a 13-6 advantage heading into halftime. The Vikings extended their lead in the second half with a field goal, making it 16-6.
Boring then found Mally Hansley for another touchdown, pushing Hoggard’s lead to 23-6. Ashley wasn’t finished fighting. Quarterback Karter Krowl connected with wide receiver Jahmeer Damon on a deep touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 23-13.
However, Hoggard’s defense took control late in the game. Eli Geller intercepted a pass from Krowl and returned it for a touchdown, extending the Vikings’ lead. Mohamed Ismail followed with another interception returned for a touchdown, helping Hoggard pull away from its crosstown rival.
The victory secured Hoggard’s fourth straight Carolina Coast Conference championship, with the Vikings completing another undefeated conference season.
Both teams now turn their attention to the NCHSAA state playoffs. Playoff brackets will be released Saturday, Oct. 31, with first-round games scheduled for Friday, Nov. 6. Under the new playoff format, the 8A classification will feature 24 teams, while every other classification will have 48 teams competing for a state championship.
