High School Sports

As we near midseason, which are the best HS football teams in NC? Check our rankings

Leesville Road’s Christian Shaw (32) reacts after recovering the ball against Cardinal Gibbons during the first half. The Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders and the Leesville Road Pride met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. on October 27, 2023.
Leesville Road’s Christian Shaw (32) reacts after recovering the ball against Cardinal Gibbons during the first half. The Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders and the Leesville Road Pride met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. on October 27, 2023. newsobserver.com

Five new teams join the N.C. statewide high school football rankings as we head into Week 6.

The rankings are sponsored by The Charlotte Observer and News & Observer of Raleigh.

In the Independent poll, Providence Day remains No. 1, and No. 2 Rabun Gap hosts No. 3 Charlotte Christian in a monster game Friday. One new team is in: Harrells Christian from Harrells, NC. The Crusaders (4-1) have won four in a row, including Friday’s 34-18 win over North Raleigh Christian.

Two new teams are in the 1A poll: Charlotte’s Corvian Community and Warren County from Warrenton, NC. The Eagles (4-1) have won four straight and are outscoring opponents 178-51. Corvian (4-0) has only allowed 23 points all season, and Winston-Salem Prep was the first team to reach double figures. Friday, Corvian beat Winston-Salem Prep 61-12.

Welcome Whiteville to the 2A poll. The Wolfpack (3-1) won 42-7 at Clinton last week and faces unbeaten Heide Trask (5-0) Friday.

In 4A, Raleigh’s Leesville Road joins the rankings. The Pride is off to a 5-0 start, led by QB Deiondre Goldston, who has thrown for 1,259 yards and 17 touchdowns. Sophomore running back AkShar Barnes has run for 402 yards and six touchdowns.

NCISAA

No.SchoolRecordPrev.
1Providence Day(4-1)1
2Rabun Gap-Nacoochee(3-2)2
3Charlotte Christian(3-1)3
4Asheville School(3-1)4
5Charlotte Latin(6-0)8
6High Point Christian(5-0)6
7Trinity Christian(4-1)7
8Christ School(1-2)5
9Charlotte Country Day(3-3)9
10Harrells Christian(4-1)NR

NCHSAA 1A

RankSchoolRecordPrev.
1Tarboro(4-0)1
2Mount Airy(5-0)2
3Mountain Heritage(4-0)3
4Starmount(4-0)5
5Eastern Randolph(4-0)4
6Murphy(4-1)6
7North Duplin (4-0)7
8Corvian Community(3-0)NR
9East Wilkes(4-0)10
10Warren County(4-1)NR

NCHSAA 2A

RankSchoolRecordPrev.
1Reidsville(5-0)1
2Monroe(4-0)2
3Northeastern(4-0)3
4Shelby(3-2)4
5James Kenan(5-0)6
6Farmville Central(5-0)9
7Randleman(5-0)5
8Maiden(3-1)8
9SouthWest Edgecombe(3-2)7
10Whiteville(3-1)NR

NCHSAA 3A

RankSchoolRecordPrev.
1Hickory(4-0)1
2Dudley(4-0)3
3Seventy-First(4-0)4
4West Charlotte(2-1)5
5Northern Nash(4-0)6
6Crest(4-0)7
7Havelock(3-1)2
8J.M. Robinson(4-0)8
9Cape Fear(4-0)9
10Jacksonville(3-0)10

NCHSAA 4A

RankSchoolRecordPrev.
1Weddington(5-0)1
2Grimsley(4-0)2
3East Forsyth(4-0)3
4Mallard Creek(3-1)4
5Independence(4-0)5
6Rolesville(3-1)6
7Hough(3-1)7
8Cardinal Gibbons(2-1)8
9Cleveland(4-0)10
10Leesville Road(5-0)NR
Langston Wertz Jr.
The Charlotte Observer
Langston Wertz Jr. is an award-winning sports journalist who has worked at the Observer since 1988. He’s covered everything from Final Fours and NFL to video games and Britney Spears. Wertz -- a West Charlotte High and UNC grad -- is the rare person who can answer “Charlotte,” when you ask, “What city are you from.” Support my work with a digital subscription
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