With NCHSAA playoffs looming, two new teams join NC statewide prep football rankings
As the N.C. public schools statewide playoffs begin, two new teams enter the statewide football rankings from The Charlotte Observer and News & Observer of Raleigh.
These will be the final rankings until the season ends in December.
New this week are 2A Brevard and 1A Robbinsville.
Brevard’s Blue Devils are 7-2 heading into Friday’s first round NCHSAA playoff game with Anson County. Brevard has won six straight games, and three of those by shutout.
Robbinsville, an annual state power, played a very aggressive schedule and started the season 0-3. The Black Knights were 1-4 and 2-5 before winning three of their final four games to end the season.
Robbinsville has lost to two teams currently ranked in the polls as well as 4A TC Roberson (4-4). None of the Black Knights’ losses are to teams with a losing record.
Now 5-6, Robbinsville begins postseason play against another traditional power, Thomasville, on Friday.
Note: The rankings are compiled by longtime N.C. football expert Chris Hughes, a co-host of The Charlotte Observer’s Talking Preps streaming show.
Statewide rankings
NCHSAA 4A
| Rank | School | Record | Prev. |
| 1 | Weddington | (9-0) | 1 |
| 2 | Grimsley | (10-0) | 2 |
| 3 | Hough | (9-1) | 3 |
| 4 | Rolesville | (9-1) | 4 |
| 5 | Cardinal Gibbons | (8-1) | 5 |
| 6 | East Forsyth | (10-0) | 6 |
| 7 | Cleveland | (10-0) | 7 |
| 8 | Mallard Creek | (8-2) | 8 |
| 9 | Mount Tabor | (8-2) | 9 |
| 10 | Richmond | (8-2) | 10 |
NCHSAA 3A
| Rank | School | Record | Prev. |
| 1 | Hickory | (10-0) | 1 |
| 2 | Dudley | (10-0) | 2 |
| 3 | Seventy-First | (10-0) | 3 |
| 4 | West Charlotte | (7-2) | 4 |
| 5 | J.M. Robinson | (10-0) | 5 |
| 6 | Northern Nash | (10-0) | 6 |
| 7 | Havelock | (9-1) | 7 |
| 8 | Cape Fear | (9-1) | 8 |
| 9 | Jacksonville | (8-1) | 9 |
| 10 | South Point | (8-1) | 10 |
NCHSAA 2A
| Rank | School | Record | Prev. |
| 1 | Reidsville | (10-0) | 1 |
| 2 | Monroe | (9-0) | 2 |
| 3 | Northeastern | (10-0) | 3 |
| 4 | Shelby | (8-2) | 4 |
| 5 | Salisbury | (9-1) | 5 |
| 6 | Southeast Alamance | (10-0) | 6 |
| 7 | Burns | (7-3) | 7 |
| 8 | Wallace-Rose Hill | (7-3) | 8 |
| 9 | James Kenan | (9-1) | 9 |
| 10 | Brevard | (7-2) | NR |
NCHSAA 1A
| Rank | School | Record | Prev. |
| 1 | Mount Airy | (10-0) | 1 |
| 2 | Starmount | (9-1) | 2 |
| 3 | Tarboro | (9-1) | 3 |
| 4 | Eastern Randolph | (10-0) | 4 |
| 5 | Mountain Heritage | (8-0) | 5 |
| 6 | Corvian Community | (9-0) | 6 |
| 7 | Murphy | (9-1) | 7 |
| 8 | Wilson Prep | (9-1) | 8 |
| 9 | East Wilkes | (8-2) | 9 |
| 10 | Robbinsville | (5-6) | NR |
NCISAA
| No. | School | Record | Prev. |
| 1 | Rabun Gap-Nacoochee | (10-2) | 1 |
| 2 | Providence Day | (9-2) | 2 |
| 3 | Charlotte Christian | (7-4) | 3 |
| 4 | Trinity Christian | (10-1) | 5 |
| 5 | Asheville School | (6-1) | 6 |
| 6 | High Point Christian | (8-1) | 4 |
| 7 | Charlotte Latin | (8-3) | 8 |
| 8 | Christ School | (3-5) | 7 |
| 9 | Metrolina Christian | (5-5) | 9 |
| 10 | Hickory Grove Christian | (7-4) | 10 |
