Six state champs, but who’s the Charlotte-area’s best prep football team, Sweet 16 king?
There can only be one.
The Charlotte area produced six state champions, but only one of them could win the Charlotte Observer’s Sweet 16 championship, signifying that team as the best in the news outlet’s coverage area that spans two states and 162 schools.
Vance High of Charlotte is this year’s Sweet 16 champion. The Cougars (13-2) won their first N.C. 4AA state championship this month, becoming the first Mecklenburg County team to capture the title in North Carolina’s largest and most difficult class in four years. Mallard Creek won three straight state championship in 4AA from 2013-15.
Vance finished ahead of N.C. 3AA state champion Weddington, N.C. 3A champion Charlotte Catholic and N.C. 2AA stat champion Shelby. The N.C. Independent Schools Division I state champion, Charlotte Christian, finished at No. 13. Division II champ Providence Day is unranked.
Vance wins the Observer’s Sweet 16 banner, which it will hang in its gym.
All-Observer football team: the annual All-Observer prep football team, honoring the top players in the area, will be released Christmas morning on charlotteobserver.com and in print editions of the newspaper.
| Rk. | School (Cl) | Rec | Prvs. |
| 1. | Vance (4A) | 13-2 | 1 |
| 2. | Weddington (3A) | 16-0 | 2 |
| 3. | Charlotte Catholic (3A) | 12-3 | 7 |
| 4. | Shelby (2A) | 14-1 | 6 |
| 5. | Mallard Creek (4A) | 10-1-1 | 3 |
| 6. | Richmond Senior | 13-1 | 4 |
| 7. | Myers Park (4A) | 12-1 | 5 |
| 8. | Kings Mountain (3A) | 12-2 | 8 |
| 9. | Boone Watauga (3A) | 13-1 | 9 |
| 10. | Northwest Cabarrus (3A) | 12-2 | 10 |
| 11. | Ardrey Kell (4A) | 11-2 | 11 |
| 12. | Clover, SC (5A) | 12-1 | 12 |
| 13. | Charlotte Christian (IND) | 8-2 | 13 |
| 14. | Statesville (3A) | 12-1 | 14 |
| 15. | Boiling Springs Crest (3A) | 10-3 | 15 |
| 16. | Salisbury (2A) | 13-3 | 16 |
Previous Sweet 16 champions
2019: Vance | |
2018: Charlotte Christian | |
2017: Rock Hill South Pointe | |
2016: Rock Hill South Pointe | 1998: Richmond Senior |
2015: Charlotte Catholic | 1997: Richmond Senior |
2014: Mallard Creek | 1996: Hickory |
2013: Mallard Creek | 1995: Spartanburg |
2012: Butler | 1994: Boiling Springs Crest |
2011: Rock Hill South Pointe | 1993: Rock Hill Northwestern |
2010: Butler | 1992: Timmonsville |
2009: Butler | 1991: Great Falls |
2008: Rock Hill South Pointe | 1990: Camden |
2007: Charlotte Latin | 1989: Richmond Senior |
2006: Independence | 1988: Richmond Senior |
2005: Independence | 1987: Lewisville |
2004: Independence | 1986: Lewisville |
2003: Independence | 1985: Marshville Forest Hills |
2002: Independence | 1984: Marshville Forest Hills |
2001: Independence | |
2000: Independence | |
1999: Richmond Senior |
This story was originally published December 23, 2019 at 10:44 AM with the headline "Six state champs, but who’s the Charlotte-area’s best prep football team, Sweet 16 king?."
