Nationally ranked Mallard Creek makes jump in Observer’s Sweet 16 football poll
Mallard Creek has been dominant all season long, showing off a new passing offense and the same stingy defense that has seen the Mavericks reach four of the past five state championship games.
This week, the Mavericks jump one spot to No. 1 in the Observer’s Sweet 16 poll.
Former No. 1 Hough is unbeaten at 7-0, but the Huskies have struggled in recent weeks, beating Mooresville 12-7 at home (No. 5 Vance beat Mooresville 47-21 Friday) and leading a 2-5 Lake Norman team 14-12 at halftime Friday. Hough eventually won 55-19.
Meanwhile, Mallard Creek ranks third among N.C. 4A teams in scoring (303) and is first in total points allowed (42). Since beating Butler 36-28 to start the season, coach Mike Palmieri’s team has allowed 14 points and averaged nearly 54 per game.
▪ The Mavericks are No. 19 in the latest High School Football America Top 100 national poll. That’s the highest for any N.C. team. Hough is No. 55, two-time N.C. 4AA state champion Wake Forest is No. 57 and Charlotte Christian is No. 82.
▪ Three new teams join the Sweet 16 poll this week: No. 13 West Mecklenburg, No. 14 Boiling Springs Crest and No. 16 Northwest Cabarrus.
| Rk. | School (Class) | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1. | Mallard Creek (4A) | 6-0 | 2 |
| 2. | Hough (4A) | 7-0 | 1 |
| 3. | Charlotte Christian (IND) | 6-0 | 4 |
| 4. | Charlotte Catholic (3A) | 6-1 | 5 |
| 5. | Vance (4A) | 6-1 | 6 |
| 6. | Richmond Senior (4A) | 5-1 | 7 |
| 7. | Butler (4A) | 5-2 | 10 |
| 8. | Myers Park (4A) | 6-1 | 3 |
| 9. | Rock Hill South Pointe (4A) | 6-1 | 8 |
| 10. | Central Cabarrus (3A) | 7-0 | 10 |
| 11. | Weddington (3A) | 6-1 | 13 |
| 12. | Gastonia Huss (3A) | 7-0 | 14 |
| 13. | West Mecklenburg (4A) | 6-1 | NR |
| 14. | Boiling Springs Crest (3A) | 6-1 | NR |
| 15. | Lenoir Hibriten (2A) | 6-0 | 12 |
| 16. | Northwest Cabarrus (3A) | 7-0 | NR |
Dropped Out: Indian Trail Sun Valley (3A, 5-2); Kings Mountain (3A, 5-2); Mooresville (3A, 5-2). Also receiving consideration: East Rutherford (2A, 7-0); North Rowan (1A, 5-1); Watauga (3A, 7-0)
Note: The Sweet 16 is a ranking of teams in the Observer’s coverage area. Eligible public and private teams must belong to the N.C. High School Athletic Association, the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association or the S.C. High School League.