Butler HS flag football team heads to championships with fan send-off

MATTHEWS, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers rolled out the blue carpet Wednesday morning to celebrate a local football team headed to the championships.

Fans lined up along the carpet to send off the Butler High School girls’ flag football team. They earned a spot in the NFL’s first annual Flag Championships, which kicks off Thursday in Canton, Ohio.

ALSO READ: Panthers highlight flag football in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools before preseason game

“All the time, people are like ‘women can’t to this and can’t do that.’ I think being able to be here is representing that we are able to do it, and we might even be able to even do it better than some people,” wide receiver Elsu Tenager told Channel 9′s DaShawn Brown.

🎩Blue carpet treatment! 🎩

A few of the highlights from the #Panthers sendoff this morning, showing love to Butler High School’s girls flag football team.

The ladies earned a spot in the #NFL Flag Championships, which kicks off tomorrow in Canton, Ohio. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/B5jmrOmWlF
— DaShawn Brown (@DaShawnWSOC9) July 17, 2024

“It’s still a little bit overwhelming,” said head coach Drew Sanders. “We’ve been busy preparing for it. Once we start pulling up the stadium, it’s really going to hit home.”

The Panthers are covering travel and lodging for the team through grant funding from the NFL.

(WATCH BELOW: Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC could get new stadium in 2046)