The North Carolina high school football offseason is over as official preseason practice kicked off Wednesday, July 29.
After months of offseason workouts and training, players and coaches finally got the
chance to begin preparing for the 2026 season.
While pads aren’t allowed during the opening days of practice, the intensity of another football season echoed across Wilmington on Wednesday.
The StarNews is visiting each Wilmington high school football team during the first week of practice to bring you the latest insights and analysis from around the Port City.
We’ll continue updating this page with more information, videos and observations as we visit each team throughout the week.
Ashley
- 2025 record: 4-6
- Coach: Adam Purzitza (first season)
The Screaming Eagles are under new leadership as former Hoggard offensive coordinator Adam Purzitza hopes to restore Ashley’s winning ways after a disappointing 4-6 season last fall.
Purzitza’s first initiative has been bringing energy. During Ashley’s first day of practice, that was immediately evident. Players say the change has been impossible to miss.
“It’s a big change of scenery,” senior Aiden Wilkinson said of his new coach. “He’s done a really good job just making us a serious football team.”
Ashley’s record took a step back last fall, but the Screaming Eagles dropped several close games. Even so, they still earned a first-round playoff upset, marking the program’s third postseason victory in three years.
Coaches corner
Cuneo’s view: Ashley has a new direction and the kind of energy only a first-year coach can bring. The 2026 season will reveal just how effective Purzitza’s offensive system is and whether it was his scheme, Hoggard’s talent, or a combination of both that fueled his success across town.
What’s already clear is that Ashley’s players are fully buying in. Wins will help sustain that momentum, but the Screaming Eagles remain one of Wilmington’s most intriguing teams entering 2026.
Hoggard
- 2025 record: 12-1
- Coach: Craig Underwood (11th season)
Hoggard's 2025 season was almost perfect.
Almost, however, wasn’t what the Vikings, who swept every area opponent, were after.
Hoggard’s season ended with a 14-7 loss to Raleigh’s Millbrook in the NCHSAA 8A state semifinal at home.
“It sucked,” senior linebacker JP Meyers said of the loss. “It wasn’t what we wanted to do.”
Still, Hoggard’s 2025 campaign was one of its best in recent memory and marked the program’s first undefeated regular season since 2017.
“We’re really just out to prove everyone wrong this season,” senior Matthew Boring said. “We’re out here every day with that mindset that we have something to prove.”
Boring enters his senior season as one of the most efficient quarterbacks in program history. A starter since his sophomore year, he’s thrown for more than 2,000 yards and nearly 20 touchdowns in each of the past two seasons. Last fall, he also led the team in rushing touchdowns with 15.
Coach’s corner
Cuneo’s view: Hoggard is once again the standard for Wilmington football. The Vikings have dominated five of the past six seasons, winning conference championships in each of those years. The biggest question is what the offense looks like following Purzitza’s departure. Even so, Hoggard returns enough offensive talent that it’s difficult to envision much drop-off from last season.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Day 1 observations from 2026 Wilmington football practice
