Surprise! Preseason Sweet 16 is heavy on 7A, 8A schools. Providence Day is No. 1
In four of the past six years, Providence Day has won a N.C. Independent Schools state championship in football.
Last season, the Chargers were denied a fourth straight Division I state title, losing 42-39 to Rabun Gap (GA) in the finals, which were held in Georgia.
This season, Providence Day — which starts No. 1 in The Observer’s Sweet 16 poll — returns 42 lettermen and 17 starters from that team, including multiple Power 4 recruits for coach Chad Grier.
The Sweet 16, which began in 1984, ranks the top teams in The Observer’s coverage area. It has changed over the years, but currently includes teams that are members of the N.C. High School Athletic Association and N.C. Independent School Athletic Association that play in these counties: Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln and Union.
The poll is compiled by longtime N.C football expert Chris Hughes and at the end of the season, the winner receives a large banner to hang in its gymnasium.
The NCHSAA has doubled its classifications from four to eight this season, but the larger schools still dominate the rankings. Six of the top eight — outside of private school rivals Providence Day and Charlotte Christian — are 7A or 8A public school teams.
Grier’s Chargers have won the banner in two of the past three seasons and should be in contention again in 2025.
Grier is in his 15th season as a head coach and his sixth at Providence Day. He said he’s never had an offensive line as a big as this year’s bunch, or a team that wouldn’t have any starters going both ways.
For example, Providence Day averages 300 pounds on the offensive line, which will protect QB Zaid Lott, a Syracuse recruit.
“This is the oldest team we’ve had with the most juniors and seniors and those two classes are deep with talented and skilled players,” Grier said. “We don’t really have a weak spot, so the chance to be elite is there. Whether that happens or not, though, remains to be seen.”
The Chargers will be tested right away, playing one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the Carolinas.
Providence Day opens up, Aug. 22, with Roman Catholic, a state runner-up ranked No. 6 in Pennsylvania in preseason. After that are games against state and national powers, all in a row: at Rolesville Aug. 29, Charlotte Catholic Sept. 5, Butler Sept. 12 and Rabun Gap (GA) Sept. 19.
“I do think with the talent we have and as hard as we have worked that they deserve to play a schedule like this,” Grier said. “Those first five weeks we will certainly be battle-tested, but (after those non-conference games), Country Day is better, Cannon got better. Latin is better. There’s no planned running clock games, and that’s fun.”
The preseason Sweet 16 poll
| Rk. | School | Class | 2024 record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Providence Day | IND | 9-3 |
| 2. | West Charlotte | 8A | 13-2 |
| 3. | Hough | 8A | 12-2 |
| 4. | Weddington | 7A | 13-1 |
| 5. | Mallard Creek | 8A | 10-3 |
| 6. | Charlotte Christian | IND | 7-4 |
| 7. | Independence | 7A | 10-2 |
| 8. | Mooresville | 7A | 11-2 |
| 9. | Ashbrook | 6A | 10-3 |
| 10. | Sun Valley | 6A | 9-3 |
| 11. | Monroe | 5A | 15-0 |
| 12. | Myers Park | 8A | 4-6 |
| 13. | Jay M. Robinson | 5A | 12-1 |
| 14. | Charlotte Catholic | 6A | 9-3 |
| 15. | Palisades | 8A | 8-4 |
| 16. | Statesville | 6A | 9-3 |
Previous Sweet 16 football champions
2024 Northwestern (SC)
2023 Providence Day
2022: Providence Day
2021: Shelby
2020-21: Vance
2019: Vance
2018: Charlotte Christian
2017: Rock Hill South Pointe (SC)
2016: Rock Hill South Pointe (SC)
2015: Charlotte Catholic
2014: Mallard Creek
2013: Mallard Creek
2012: Butler
2011: Rock Hill South Pointe (SC)
2010: Butler
2009: Butler
2008: Rock Hill South Pointe (SC)
2007: Charlotte Latin
2006: Independence
2005: Independence
2004: Independence
2003: Independence
2002: Independence
2001: Independence
2000: Independence
1999: Richmond Senior
1998: Richmond Senior
1997: Richmond Senior
1996: Hickory
1995: Spartanburg (SC)
1994: Boiling Springs Crest
1993: Rock Hill Northwestern (SC)
1992: Timmonsville (SC)
1991: Great Falls (SC)
1990: Camden (SC)
1989: Richmond Senior
1988: Richmond Senior
1987: Lewisville (SC)
1986: Lewisville (SC)
1985: Marshville Forest Hills
1984: Marshville Forest Hills
This story was originally published August 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
