Michael Carter and Thomas Leggett have spent countless hours in the weight room and on the field the last few months.

Their limits have been tested. Their skills have been evaluated. But their eyes have never drifted from the end goal of making it to the NFL.

For 33 days, a devastating loss to Niceville simmered and stewed on the minds of Navarre’s flag football players. That 42-0 loss to the Eagles a month ago was an open wound that would not heal.

But of out of the ashes of that crushing defeat, a champion has risen, the Raiders standing tall as the best in the district in 2021 after punching their rival in the mouth Wednesday night in the District 1-2A final at Eagles Stadium.

Mackenzie England caught the ball in stride near the middle of the field and turned up the jets as she outran the entire Leon defense on her way to the end zone.

It was one of several special moments for Navarre’s flag football team in its historic 40-6 win over the Lions in the quarterfinal round of the district tournament Monday night at Bennett C. Russell Stadium.

Ten lifters will compete for Navarre at next Saturday’s 3A state weightlifting meet in St. Cloud. The Raiders are the reigning champs in 2A but moved up to 3A this season.

Navarre won’t go into this year’s meet favored to win it but the Raiders do have several lifters who could place at state, including TJ Peltier, who is ranked second in his weight class.