High school football returns with New Hanover County jamboree

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The excitement was loud at Legion Stadium as fans and families came out to get their first look at New Hanover County’s high school football teams in action.

Pushups. Cheerleading. Tackles. High school football season is back.

Fans, friends and families filled the stadium Friday to cheer on Laney, New Hanover, Hoggard and Ashley at the New Hanover County High School Jamboree.

The scrimmages against teams from outside the Cape Fear region offered players a chance to prepare for the upcoming season. But for parents, the event was also an opportunity to finally see their children take the field.

For Steve Barnett, the father of New Hanover receiver Skyler Barnett, the jamboree was a chance to see the work his son has put in throughout the summer.

“He’s been nothing but resilient, but they allow him to be great,” Barnett said. “They push him, they challenge him. He’s got a real good system right now.”

For students, the event also provided a chance to get back into the game-day mindset — including the celebrations that come with it.

“We’re excited for the season,” One student said. “We are excited for every sport, everything they’ve got. We’re going to have fun with it, win or lose, but hope we always will.”

For Skyler Barnett, the season could bring a chance to make his mark, starting with the scoring his first touchdown in front of his family.

His father said that moment would be a reward for the work it took to get there.

“It’s a chance to see everything they worked on during the summer — those early mornings, those Friday afternoons,” Barnett said. “They came out and sacrificed themselves to be better. So, it’s their first opportunity to show up and show the city what they’re doing.”