Which are the best prep football teams in North Carolina? Our rankings heading to Week 9
Four new teams join the N.C. statewide high school football rankings this week.
The rankings are sponsored by The Charlotte Observer and News & Observer of Raleigh and are compiled by N.C. football expert and “Talking Preps” co-host Chris Hughes.
New this week?
▪ In the private school poll, two Charlotte-area schools are in: Covenant Day (4-2) shut out SouthLake Christian 28-0 last week and has won three of its past four games. The only loss in the run was to 8-0 Charlotte Latin, which is No. 4 this week.
Also in is Hickory Grove (7-1). The Lions’ only loss this season was to Covenant Day last month, 40-21.
▪ In the 1A poll, Wilson Prep (6-1) joins the rankings after winning four straight games. The Tigers, who average nearly 40 points per game, beat KIPP Pride, 44-22, Friday.
▪ Finally, in the 2A poll, Salisbury (7-1) joins after winning six straight games. In the past two weeks, the Hornets have outscored opponents by a margin of 137-7.
NC state rankings heading into Week 9
NCISAA
| 1 | Providence Day | (6-1) | 1 |
| 2 | Rabun Gap-Nacoochee | (6-2) | 2 |
| 3 | Charlotte Christian | (4-3) | 3 |
| 4 | Charlotte Latin | (8-0) | 5 |
| 5 | High Point Christian | (7-0) | 6 |
| 6 | Trinity Christian | (6-1) | 7 |
| 7 | Charlotte Country Day | (4-4) | 9 |
| 8 | Harrells Christian | (6-1) | 10 |
| 9 | Covenant Day | (4-2) | NR |
| 10 | Hickory Grove Christian | (6-1) | NR |
NCHSAA 1A
| 1 | Mount Airy | (8-0) | 1 |
| 2 | Starmount | (6-1) | 2 |
| 3 | Tarboro | (6-1) | 3 |
| 4 | Eastern Randolph | (7-0) | 5 |
| 5 | Mountain Heritage | (4-0) | 4 |
| 6 | Murphy | (6-1) | 6 |
| 7 | Corvian Community | (6-0) | 8 |
| 8 | Wilson Prep | (6-1) | NR |
| 9 | North Duplin | (6-0) | 7 |
| 10 | East Wilkes | (5-1) | 9 |
NCHSAA 2A
| 1 | Reidsville | (7-0) | 1 |
| 2 | Monroe | (6-0) | 2 |
| 3 | Northeastern | (7-0) | 3 |
| 4 | Shelby | (5-2) | 4 |
| 5 | James Kenan | (7-0) | 5 |
| 6 | Randleman | (7-0) | 6 |
| 7 | Whiteville | (6-1) | 7 |
| 8 | Burns | (5-2) | 9 |
| 9 | Walkertown | (6-1) | 8 |
| 10 | Salisbury | (7-1) | NR |
NCHSAA 3A
| 1 | Hickory | (7-0) | 1 |
| 2 | Dudley | (7-0) | 2 |
| 3 | Seventy-First | (7-0) | 3 |
| 4 | Northern Nash | (7-0) | 4 |
| 5 | J.M. Robinson | (7-0) | 7 |
| 6 | West Charlotte | (4-2) | 6 |
| 7 | South Point | (5-0) | 9 |
| 8 | Havelock | (6-1) | 8 |
| 9 | Crest | (5-1) | 10 |
| 10 | Jacksonville | (5-1) | 5 |
NCHSAA 4A
| 1 | Weddington | (6-0) | 1 |
| 2 | Grimsley | (7-0) | 2 |
| 3 | Hough | (6-1) | 6 |
| 4 | East Forsyth | (7-0) | 3 |
| 5 | Rolesville | (6-1) | 5 |
| 6 | Mallard Creek | (6-1) | 4 |
| 7 | Cardinal Gibbons | (5-1) | 7 |
| 8 | Mount Tabor | (5-2) | 8 |
| 9 | Cleveland | (7-0) | 9 |
| 10 | Clayton | (7-0) | 10 |
