High School Sports

As playoffs open, 2 hot teams return to Observer’s Sweet 16 football rankings

Shelby High celebrated after winning the 2016 state championship. In 2018, the Golden Lions enter the playoffs on a win streak in their chase to win another.
Shelby High celebrated after winning the 2016 state championship. In 2018, the Golden Lions enter the playoffs on a win streak in their chase to win another. jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

Two familiar teams return to the Observer’s Sweet 16 this week.

Shelby High’s Golden Lions got off to a 1-3 start but have won seven straight heading into Friday’s N.C. 2AA first-round playoff game against West Lincoln (9-2).

The other team returning this week is Indian Trail Sun Valley (9-2), which has won four straight and has losses to No. 3 Charlotte Catholic and No. 9 Weddington.

Sun Valley opens the playoffs Friday at Concord Cox Mill (8-3).



Rk

Team

Cl

Rec

Prvs.

1

Mallard Creek

4A

10-0

1

2

Charlotte Christian

IND

11-0

2

3

Charlotte Catholic

3A

10-1

3

4

Vance

4A

10-1

4

5

Richmond Senior

4A

10-1

6

6

Butler

4A

9-2

7

7

Myers Park

4A

10-1

8

8

Rock Hill South Pointe

4A

10-1

9

9

Weddington

3A

10-1

10

10

Hough

4A

9-2

5

11

Gastonia Huss

3A

11-0

11

12

Northwest Cabarrus

3A

11-0

13

13

Watauga

3A

11-0

14

14

Indian Trail Sun Valley

3A

9-2

NR

15

Lenoir Hibriten

2A

11-0

15

16

Shelby

2A

8-3

NR

Dropped Out: West Mecklenburg (4A, 8-3); Mooresville (4A, 8-3). Also receiving consideration: Belmont South Point (2A, 8-3); Morganton Freedom (3A, 9-2)

Note: The Observer’s Sweet 16 is a ranking of the top teams in the newspaper’s 162-school coverage area in North and South Carolina. The poll considers strength of schedule, strength of classification as well as performance. The poll is open to teams who are members of the N.C. High School Athletic Association or the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association.

This story was originally published November 12, 2018 at 3:38 PM.

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