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Championship Week is officially underway, and the energy in Charlotte is already off the charts. We opened yesterday with our first full slate of football games, and today the action expands as Cheer & Dance take the stage.
This year marks the 68th Pop Warner Super Bowl and the 38th Cheer & Dance National Championship, drawing more than 45,000 athletes, families, and fans from across the country. Over 700 teams are competing across two premier venues: the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex, which will host more than 100 football games throughout the week, and the Charlotte Convention Center, where more than 125 performances will take place each day.
Football delivered a strong opening day. Forty-eight teams battled in their first set of games, giving us a slate of matchups packed with 50-yard TD runs, game-saving picks, strip sacks, and more. One of the most exciting finishes came from the clash between the Odell Eagles (NC) and the San Diego Bolts (CA). After a hard-fought 0–0 regulation, the Bolts sealed the win in overtime with a quarterback sneak, punching their ticket to the semifinals.
After Day 1, the following teams are moving on to Tuesday’s semifinals:
- DII 9U:
- West Boynton Wolfpack (FL) vs. San Diego Bolts (CA)
- Youngstown Little Bears (OH) vs. Geddes Westvale Knights (NY)
- DII 10U:
- Lake Norman Giants (NC) vs. 2390 Elite YAA (PA)
- Wesley Chapel Coyotes (FL) vs. Mt Hope Cowboys (CT)
- DII 11U:
- Greater LaPorte Slicers (IN) vs. Capital City Steelers (NC)
- Coconut Grove Redskins (FL) vs. Oceanside Running Pirates (CA)
- DII 12U:
- South Georgia Soulrunners (GA) vs. Creekside Warriors (CA)
- Merrillville Pirates (IN) vs. Del Mar Coastal Bears (CA)
- DII 13U:
- Darien Swarm (IL) vs. Downingtown Young Whippets (PA)
- Martin County Panthers (FL) vs. Saddleback Valley (CA)
- DI 14U:
- Oceanside Warriors (CA) vs. South Naples Trojans (FL)
- Saint James Royals (NJ) vs. Fort Myers Firecats (FL)
Today, Division I football teams take the field for their opening matchups, and Cheer & Dance launches into its first full day of performances. And later this week, our new Crown Classic Flag Football Tournament, presented in partnership with NFL FLAG, gets underway, while the Queen City Crown Open Cheer & Dance Competition continues throughout the week, offering even more opportunities for athletes to shine.
The days ahead promise even more excitement, athleticism, and unforgettable moments as the nation’s best come together to compete for a championship.
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