Charlotte Catholic makes a jump in The Observer’s Sweet 16 prep football poll
Charlotte Catholic’s football team started the season 1-2 under first-year coach Keith Emery, dropping back-to-back games to Providence Day and Crest.
But now, the Cougars — who jumped three spots to No. 4 in The Observer’s Sweet 16 poll — have gotten rolling.
Friday’s 34-14 win against Butler moved the Cougars to 7-2 on the season and Catholic’s fifth straight win clinched at least a share of the Southwestern 4A conference championship.
Catholic can win the title outright Friday at East Mecklenburg (1-7).
With the playoffs not starting until Nov. 15, the Cougars be off for two weeks after the East Meck game.
▪ NOTE: The Sweet 16 rankings, which began in 1984, rank the top 16 teams in the media company’s coverage-area, which includes teams in the following counties: Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Union and York and Lancaster in upper state South Carolina. The rankings are compiled by longtime N.C. prep football expert Chris Hughes, a co-host of The Observer’s “Talking Preps” streaming show.
This week’s rankings
| Rank | School | Record | Prev. |
| 1 | Weddington | (7-0) | 1 |
| 2 | Northwestern | (9-0) | 2 |
| 3 | Hough | (7-1) | 3 |
| 4 | Charlotte Catholic | (7-2) | 7 |
| 5 | Independence | (7-1) | 8 |
| 6 | Providence Day | (6-2) | 4 |
| 7 | Mallard Creek | (6-2) | 5 |
| 8 | J.M. Robinson | (8-0) | 6 |
| 9 | West Charlotte | (5-2) | 9 |
| 10 | Monroe | (7-0) | 11 |
| 11 | Mooresville | (7-1) | 10 |
| 12 | Ashbrook | (7-1) | 13 |
| 13 | South Point | (5-1) | 12 |
| 14 | South Pointe | (6-2) | 14 |
| 15 | Charlotte Christian | (5-3) | 15 |
| 16 | Palisades | (7-2) | 16 |
