With playoffs looming, 5 new teams join NC statewide high school football rankings
Five new teams join The Charlotte Observer and News & Observer of Raleigh NC statewide high school football rankings this week. The playoffs begin Friday for the state’s public (NCHSAA) and private (NCISAA) schools.
Some notes:
▪ There is one new No. 1. Boiling Springs Crest (10-0) again takes the spot in 3A after beating No. 6 Kings Mountain Friday. Greensboro Dudley (10-0) dropped one spot to No. 2. Those teams could potentially meet in the 3A Western playoffs.
▪ There are two new teams in that 3A poll: No. 8 West Henderson (10-0) and No. 10 Southern Nash (9-1).
▪ In 2A, Shelby (7-3), a perennial power, is in at No. 8. Shelby has won seven in a row since starting 0-3. The Golden Lions losses were to 3A No. 6 Kings Mountain (34-17 on Aug. 18); 28-21 to 4A Asheville Reynolds (Aug. 25); and 53-38 to 3A No. 1 Crest (Sept. 1).
▪ And in 4A, 10-0 PInecrest is in at No. 7 and recent state champion Cardinal Gibbons is No. 10.
NC High School Football Rankings
NCISAA 8-MAN
| No. | School | Rec. | Prev. |
| 1 | Wayne Christian | (9-1) | 1 |
| 2 | Halifax Academy | (8-0) | 2 |
| 3 | Rocky Mount Academy | (8-2) | 3 |
| 4 | Faith Christian | (5-3) | 5 |
| 5 | Arednell Parrott | (5-4) | 4 |
NCISAA Division II
| No. | School | Record | Prev. |
| 1 | Trinity Christian | (8-1) | 1 |
| 2 | Asheville School | (6-3) | 4 |
| 3 | High Point Christian | (8-2) | 2 |
| 4 | Hickory Grove Christian | (8-2) | 3 |
| 5 | Covenant Day | (5-5) | 5 |
NCISAA Division I
| No. | School | Record | Prev. |
| 1 | Rabun Gap-Nacoochee | (11-0) | 1 |
| 2 | Providence Day | (9-1) | 2 |
| 3 | Charlotte Christian | (7-3) | 3 |
| 4 | Christ School | (3-6) | 4 |
| 5 | Charlotte Country Day | (4-6) | 5 |
NCHSAA 1A
| Rank | School | Record | Prev. |
| 1 | Mount Airy | (10-0) | 1 |
| 2 | Tarboro | (9-0) | 2 |
| 3 | Robbinsville | (9-1) | 4 |
| 4 | Swain County | (9-1) | 3 |
| 5 | Eastern Randolph | (9-1) | 5 |
| 6 | Mountain Heritage | (8-2) | 8 |
| 7 | West Columbus | (9-1) | 7 |
| 8 | Starmount | (9-1) | 9 |
| 9 | Murphy | (7-3) | 10 |
| 10 | Draughn | (8-2) | 6 |
NCHSAA 2A
| Rank | School | Record | Prev. |
| 1 | Clinton | (10-0) | 1 |
| 2 | Monroe | (9-1) | 2 |
| 3 | Northeastern | (10-0) | 3 |
| 4 | Salisbury | (10-0) | 4 |
| 5 | Reidsville | (9-1) | 5 |
| 6 | Wallace-Rose Hill | (7-3) | 7 |
| 7 | Bunker Hill | (10-0) | 9 |
| 8 | Shelby | (7-3) | NR |
| 9 | East Duplin | (9-1) | 8 |
| 10 | Forest Hills | (9-1) | 10 |
NCHSAA 3A
| Rank | School | Record | Prev. |
| 1 | Crest | (10-0) | 2 |
| 2 | Dudley | (10-0) | 1 |
| 3 | Seventy-First | (10-0) | 3 |
| 4 | J.M. Robinson | (10-0) | 5 |
| 5 | Hickory | (10-0) | 6 |
| 6 | Kings Mountain | (9-1) | 4 |
| 7 | Havelock | (10-0)* | 7 |
| 8 | West Henderson | (10-0) | NR |
| 9 | Southern Alamance | (9-1) | 9 |
| 10 | Southern Nash | (9-1) | NR |
NCHSAA 4A
| Rank | School | Record | Prev. |
| 1 | Grimsley | (10-0) | 1 |
| 2 | Rolesville | (9-1) | 2 |
| 3 | Butler | (9-1) | 3 |
| 4 | Hough | (9-1) | 5 |
| 5 | Mooresville | (10-0) | 6 |
| 6 | Cleveland | (10-0) | 7 |
| 7 | Pinecrest | (10-0) | NR |
| 8 | Hoggard | (9-1) | 8 |
| 9 | Weddington | (8-2) | 4 |
| 10 | Cardinal Gibbons | (8-2) | NR |
