Friday’s high school rewind: How the Sweet 16 fared, NC scores, next week’s schedule
Friday night’s Week 2 of high school football was full of surprises:
1) The two big showdown games in the area — West Charlotte at Monroe and Independence at Hough — both turned into running-clock blowouts. The Lions (1-1) and Hough (2-0) look to be on another tier, and potentially heading to an 8A playoff showdown.
2) After a solid 37-6 win over Concord’s JM Robinson, Myers Park went to Union County and maybe pulled off the biggest upset in the state this year, beating Weddington 28-18 (story below). The Mustangs led 21-10 and looked like they belonged. A showdown with Hough, potentially for a league championship, could be coming down the line.
3) In Cabarrus County, Kannapolis’ AL Brown ran away from arch-rival Concord, winning the “Battle of the Bell” game 38-3. Concord has not won the game, one of the oldest rivalries in the nation, since beating AL Brown 20-14 on opening day of the 2014 season.
4) Fourth-year Palisades High shut out geographical rival Olympic 26-0. Palisades, which took many students from Olympic, won the rivalry game 27-14 last season and 32-14 in 2023. Olympic won the first meeting, 47-0, in 2022.
5) Scroll down for full coverage, our weekly roundup, statewide scores and next week’s Charlotte-area schedule
Quick links
Ardrey Kell defensive star is first Observer player of the week
No. 1 Hough dominates No. 5 Independence (story, photos)
Providence Day rolls past Rolesville on the road
West Charlotte blows out 2A state champion Monroe on the road
Talking Preps postgame show: Hough’s Shawn Baker joins
How the Sweet 16 fared
Rk., Team, Rec., Result
1. Hough (2-0): d. Independence 35-0
2. Providence Day (2-0): d. Rolesville 38-10
3. Mallard Creek (1-0): plays at Warwick (VA) Sat., noon
4. Weddington (1-1): lost 28-18 to Myers Park
5. Independence (1-1): lost 35-0 to Hough
6. West Charlotte (1-1): d. Monroe 47-0
7. Charlotte Christian (1-1): lost to Charlotte Catholic 16-7
8. Myers Park (2-0): d. Weddington 28-18
9. Palisades (2-0): d. Olympic 26-0
10. South Point (1-0) idle
11. Ashbrook (2-0): d. Berry 40-7
12. Monroe (1-1): lost 47-0 to West Charlotte
13. Mooresvile (1-1): d. Sun Valley 49-14
14. Statesville (2-0): d. West Meck 26-6
15. Charlotte Catholic (2-0): d. Charlotte Christian 16-7
16. Lake Norman (2-0): d. Mount Tabor 48-28
No. 3 Mallard Creek stops Warwick (VA), goes 2-0
Mallard Creek High, nationally-ranked in preseason, has had its starting quarterback for about one possession in the 2025 season.
But led by a ferocious defense, the Mavericks are undefeated after two games and are looking like a team that could make a serious run at the N.C. 8A state championship — if QB Perry Justice can come back healthy from an ankle injury.
After beating 2024 N.C. 4A state finalist and nationally-ranked Rolesville, 36-21, to start the season, Mallard Creek went to Newport News and beat one of Virginia’s top teams Saturday, taking down Warwick 3-0.
Warwick is a perennial power in the Norfolk area and was 10-3 last season. The Raiders, making their season debut Saturday, didn’t pass much and challenged the Mallard Creek defense with a speedy quarterback and lots of Southern California-style sweeps left and right.
And for much of the game, Mallard Creek stood strong.
Mallard Creek’s offense, led by backup Sam Cheeseboro, didn’t do much, either, but the Mavericks did get a drive to the Warwick 3 in the third quarter. That one ended when Ashton Blevins made a 21-yard field goal at the end of the third quarter.
The Mavericks had a chance to add to their lead, with just over seven minutes to play, but a fumbled snap led to a turnover at the Warwick 35. That gave Warwick a chance but on a fourth and 2 at the Mavericks’ 45, Warwick was called for holding, turning fourth and 2 to fourth and 7. A fourth down pass with 2:18 to play never had a chance.
In the first half, Warwick had a great chance to score after an interception return landed the Raiders at the Mallard Creek 1 with 1:24 left in the first half. But Mallard Creek stopped Warwick from scoring and pushed them back nine yards before halftime. The half ended in a 0-0 tie.
Friday’s roundup
Myers Park 28, Weddington 18: Myers Park coach Chris James said early this month that his team wasn’t the least bit happy with going 4-6 last year.
Friday, the Mustangs played like they were angry about 2024’s results, going to Union County and beating Weddington, 28-18, in what may be the state’s biggest upset so far.
Weddington was No. 4 in The Observer’s Sweet 16 and hadn’t lost a regular-season game since October of 2023, when it lost to Southern Carolinas conference rival Porter Ridge.
But Friday, the Mustangs jumped out to a 21-10 lead and were up 28-18 when Weddington was driving with under five minutes to play in the fourth quarter.
Myers Park got a big interception that left the Mustangs on Weddington’s side of field, effectively ending the game.
No. 15 Charlotte Catholic 16, No. 7 Charlotte Christian 7: The visiting Cougars forced three Charlotte Christian turnovers and converted two mistakes into points for a nonconference victory. A fumble recovery set up the Cougars’ first score, Aidan Flynn’s 45-yard field goal. An interception with 3:30 left in the first quarter set up Flynn’s 33-yard field goal.
The Knights took a 7-6 lead on the final play of the third quarter, as Owen Metzelaars tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Vince Rosen and Elijah Boythe kicked the extra point. But Charlotte Catholic took the lead for good, on a 10-yard Garrett Nowlan 10-yard run with 7:42 left. Flynn added his third field goal of the game, from 36 yards, for the final points with three minutes left.
No. 9 Palisades 26, Olympic 0: The Pumas led only 7-0 at halftime but scored on a pass and two runs in the third quarter and blew this game open.
No. 13 Mooresville 49, Sun Valley 14: Mooresville scored the game’s first two touchdowns, including a 67-yard pass by Brody Norman, but Sun Valley quarterback Noah Lineberry guided his team on a pair of scoring drives for a 14-14 tie at the half.
It was all-Mooresville in the second half, though, as Norman threw a pair of touchdown passes for Joey Hauck, Jack Nelin stripped Lineberry of the ball and scored a touchdown, and Evan Young ran for two scores.
No. 16 Lake Norman 48, Mount Tabor 28: Kaden Craft ran for two touchdowns and passed for another in the first half, as Lake Norman built a 27-0 lead. The Wildcats surrendered 28 points in the third quarter, but they scored 21 of their own on runs of 65 and 52 yards by Allen Jones and an 85-yard kickoff return by Jeremy Mitchell.
A.L. Brown 38, Concord 7: The host Wonders built a 38-0 halftime lead and trounced the Spiders in the renewal of the nation’s 15th-oldest high school football rivalry. A.L. Brown won the annual Battle of the Bell for the 11th straight time.
Ambassador Christian 49, North Raleigh Christian 20: Freshman Weston Michalak threw five touchdown passes, as the Lions improved to 2-0 in their first season of varsity football. Ambassador Christian also scored on an interception return, as they broke a 14-14 tie midway in the second quarter.
Butler 14, Corvian Community 9: The visiting Bulldogs rallied from a 3-0 halftime deficit with a pair of second-half scores and held off the Cardinals for a victory. It was Corvian Community’s first regular-season loss since late in the 2023 campaign.
Cannon School 62, Covenant Day 8: The Cougars bounced back from an opening loss by building a 35-0 lead after one quarter and scoring again early in the second quarter to force a running clock.
Christ the King 27, SouthLake Christian 15: Jamison Ehret threw three touchdown passes, as the Crusaders raced to a 27-0 lead midway in the third quarter. Cameron Gandy threw two touchdown passes to John Balcerzak for SouthLake Christian.
East Rowan 19, Pine Lake Prep 13 (OT): The Pride forced overtime with a field goal late in regulation, but the Mustangs scored the only overtime touchdown for the victory. East Rowan has won back-to-back games for the first time in seven seasons.
Forest Hills 42, Fairmont 0: Kylan Polk rushed for 70 yards, scored a touchdown on a run and a pass, and DeMarion Hough had a pair of touchdown receptions in the Yellow Jackets’ romp.
Lake Norman Charter 43, Garinger 13: Garinger, which snapped a 49-game losing streak last week with a victory over Winston-Salem Prep, fell behind early in this game and never was able to battle back.
Marvin Ridge 38, Ballantyne Ridge 12: Parker Frashier threw a pair of first-half touchdown passes, and the Mavericks rolled to victory. Ballantyne Ridge, in its second season of varsity football, is still looking for its first victory.
North Mecklenburg 39, South Iredell 13: The Vikings broke a 6-6 tie in the second quarter by scoring on an interception and a 26-yard pass. They added three touchdowns in the second half on runs, improving to 2-0 on the season.
Porter Ridge 24, Ardrey Kell 7: Raishawn Elmore scored a pair of touchdowns, and Eric Henriquez clinched victory with a fumble return for a score, lifting the visiting Pirates. Elmore scored on a 32-yard run in the first quarter, and a 37-yard pass from Keenan Sullivan to Elmore set up Ryan Ladimir’s 26-yard field goal that gave the Pirates a 10-0 lead.
Ardrey Kell got within 10-7 early in the third quarter on a 40-yard pass from Jared Curtis to Khylied Rodriguez, but Evans scored for the Pirates on a 1-yard run midway in the fourth quarter, and Henriquez returned a fumble 19 yards for the final score.
South Mecklenburg 16, Community School of Davidson 13: Quinn Rucker ran 7 yards for a touchdown midway in the third quarter, and the visiting Sabres hung on for the victory. Rucker’s run gave South Meck a 16-7 lead. The Spartans narrowed the gap on a 6-yard pass from Ty Siglar to Tyler Johnson late in the third quarter. Sophomore cornerback Xavier Lopez Cruz had two interceptions and two blocked field goals. One of his blocks, late in the fourth quarter, would’ve tied the game. Sabres’ QB Carter Gillis, a senior, finished 12 of 19 passing for 156 yards and ran four times for 72 yards and a touchdown.
West Caldwell 26, Avery County 20: West Caldwell ended the state’s longest losing streak, 42 games, beating Avery Couty 26-20 in Newland. West Caldwell was the second straight NC team to end a streak. Garinger ended a 48-game losing streak last week, beating Winston-Salem Prep.
Also Friday, Hillsborough’s Cedar Ridge High ended a 29-game losing streak, beating Graham 28-6. And Swansboro, which had a 23-game losing streak, snapped it Friday, beating Pamlico County 42-14.
The new active losing streak leader is now South Brunswick, which lost its 19th straight on Friday against North Brunswick 39-21.
Northwest Cabarrus 27, Central Cabarrus 21 (OT): Central Cabarrus forced overtime by scoring on a 20-yard pass from Lucas Rogers to Joshua Gregore, but the Trojans won in overtime. Central Cabarrus got the ball first in overtime but lost a fumble. Nate Jones then scored on a game-winning 7-yard run for Northwest Cabarrus.
The NC coaches pay dilemma
Only four NC high school football coaches make more than $100,000, which heavily trails their peers in neighboring states.
“It’s kind of crazy when you look at it,” Providence High coach Wes Ward said. “Those states and salaries are so different. But hiring coaches is so important because they’re with your youth all the time, and people always talk about how, ‘We want these good coaches,’ and ‘We want these good guys,’ and ‘We want them to be professional.’
“But you have to pay them, and I think that’s the difference you’re seeing in states like that. It’s why they’re doing so well and why so many kids are going to school on scholarship. It’s kind of sad that this state is so far behind because of the talent I see here, especially in the Charlotte-area. It could be a lot different.”
Photo galleries
This weekend’s schedule and results
FRIDAY
Mecklenburg nonconference
Ambassador Christian 49, North Raleigh Christian 20
Ashbrook 54, Berry Academy 7
Butler 14, Corvian Community 9
Cannon School 62, Covenant Day 8
Chambers 34, Hopewell 17
Charlotte Catholic 16, Charlotte Christian 7
Charlotte Latin 52, Ravenscroft School 7
Christ the King 27, SouthLake Christian 15
Cox Mill 35, Rocky River 20
East Lincoln 55, Providence 24
Harding 22, East Mecklenburg 6
Hickory Grove 43, Cabarrus Stallions 0
Hough 35, Independence 0
Lake Norman Charter 43, Garinger 13
Marvin Ridge 38, Ballantyne Ridge 12
Myers Park 28, Weddington 18
North Mecklenburg 39, South Iredell 12
Palisades 26, Olympic 0
Porter Ridge 24, Ardrey Kell 7
Providence Day 38, Rolesville 10
South Davidson 48, Bonnie Cone 6
South Mecklenburg 16, Community School of Davidson 13
Statesville 26, West Mecklenburg 6
West Charlotte 47, Monroe 0
Nonconference
AL Brown 38, Concord 3
Cherryville 28, CD Owen 27
Cuthbertson 20, Parkwood 6
East Rowan 19, Pine Lake Prep 13
Forest Hills 42, Fairmont 0
Forestview 26, East Gaston 7
Highland Tech 8, Buford, SC 7
High Point Christian 35, Metrolina Christian 0
Hunter Huss 55, Bessemer City 6
Jay M. Robinson 42, West Cabarrus 10
Jesse Carson 35, Mount Pleasant 32
Lake Norman 48, Mount Tabor 28
Lincolnton 48, North Lincoln 35
Mooresville 49, Sun Valley 14
Northwest Cabarrus 27, Central Cabarrus 21 (OT)
Piedmont 33, South Stanly 27
South Rowan 42, Langtree Charter 26
Stuart Cramer 34, North Gaston 27
West Iredell 43, North Iredell 6
West Lincoln 72, Lincoln Charter 49
SATURDAY
Nonconference
Mallard Creek (1-0) at Newport News (VA) Warwick (0-0), noon
OFF WEEK: Charlotte Country Day, Hickory Ridge, Mountain Island Charter, South Point, Union Academy
FRIDAY’S NC SCORES
A.C. Reynolds 27, Maiden 26
Albemarle 49, North Wake Saints 0
Alleghany 28, Grayson County (VA) 21
American Leadership/Johnston 54, North Raleigh Christian 46
Apex Friendship 31, Lee County 14
Asheville School 47, Knoxville (TN) Webb 30
Ayden-Grifton 33, North Pitt 8
Baylor (GA) 35, Rabun Gap School 34
Bear Grass Charter 50, Northwest Halifax 32
Ben Smith 34, Southern Guilford 14
Camden County 7, First Flight 6
Cardial Gibbons 24, Norfolk (VA) Maury 20
Carver 60, Winston-Salem Prep 0
Cary 28, Athens Drive 6
Cary Christian 20, Providence Athletic (SC) 18
Cedar Ridge 28, Graham 6
Central Davidson 68, Atkins 14
Chapel Hill 34, Orange 22
Christ School 44, Providence Christian (SC) 14
Clayton 49, Southern Nash 14
Cleveland 52, Corinth Holders 13
Crest 31, Shelby 24
Croatan 49, Topsail 7
Davie County 30, West Rowan 20
D.H. Conley 34, Northeastern 19
Dobyns-Bennett (TN) 21, Asheville 7
East Bladen 26, West Bladen 0
East Duplin 42, Princeton 20
East Forsyth 33, Northern Guilford 10
Eastern Guilford 20, Williams 14
Eastern Randolph 35, Randleman 14
Eastern Wayne 18, C.B. Aycock 3
E.E. Smith 19, Ashley 17
Elkin 39, North Stokes 12
Enloe 55, Knightdale 25
Forbush 33, Wheatmore 19
Franklin 28, Robbinsville 7
Franklinton 48, Bunn 6
Fred T. Foard 26, East Burke 18
Freedom 68, Draughn 0
Garner 42, Laney 7
Gray’s Creek 37, Westover 33
Green Hope 49, East Chapel Hill 0
Greene Central 60, Goldsboro 0
Greenville (SC) Hurricanes 41, Thomas Jefferson Academy 0
Grimsley 31, West Forsyth 17
Harrells Christian 34, Wayne Christian 14
Hayesville 21, Enka 20
Heard County (GA) 42, Murphy 10
Heide Trask 33, East Columbus 0
Hendersonville 39, West Henderson 6
Hibriten 62, South Caldwell 6
Hickory 63, Alexander Central 14
Hobgood Charter 38, Triangle Math & Science 0
Hoggard 44, Jack Britt 40
Hoke County 21, South View 15
Jacksonville 40, Jacksonville Northside 27
Jordan 30, Southern Durham 7
Jordan-Matthews 48, Chatham Central 6
Kings Mountain 40, Burns 34
Kinston 26, Wallace-Rose Hill 24
KIPP Pride 24, Roanoke Rapids 7
Lakeway Christian (TN) 70, Asheville Christian 0
Lakewood 40, Lejeune 0
Madison County 34, East Henderson 8
Middle Creek 45, Willow Spring 14
Midway 55, Clinton 39
Millbrook 36, Heritage 0
Mitchell County 35, McDowell 21
Montgomery Central 38, Anson County 16
Mount Airy 23, East Wilkes 16
Mountain Heritage 30, Clyde Erwin 15
New Bern 28, Habelock 7
New Hanover 41, Purnell Swett 0
Newton-Conover 49, Polk County 14
North Brunswick 39, South Brunswick 21
North Buncombe 28, Rosman 14
North Davidson 17, Lexington 14
North Henderson 42, R-S Central 37
North Johnston 35, Holmes 34
North Lenoir 20, South Lenoir 6
North Stanly 21, West Stanly 14
North Surry 7, West Wilkes 3
North Wilkes 55, Surry Central 0
Northeast Guilford 20, Eastern Alamance 7
Northern Durham 14, Carrboro 6
Page 42, Northwest Guilford 21
Pasquotank County 13, Gates County 6
Patrick Henry (VA) 27, Southern Alamance 0
Pender 36, Red Springs 28
Person 32, Halifax County 22
Pinecrest 21, Union Pines 16
Pisgah 28, Swain County 27
Providence Grove 23, Morehead 0
Pungo Christian 50, St. David’s 6
Reagan 7, Oak Grove 6
Reidsville 42, Danville (VA) George Washington 14
Richmond Senior 36, Scotland County 21
R.J. Reynolds 33, Glenn 26
St. Pauls 35, Lumberton 0
St. Stephens 29, Bunker Hill 20
Salisbury 40, North Rowan 36
Sanderson 63, Durham Riverside 26
Sandhills Classical 44, Lee Christian 0
Seventy First 22, Cape Fear 8
Smoky Mountain 44, Andrews 7
South Central 26, Farmville Central 16
South Granville 33, Vance County 6
Southeast Alamance 41, Seaforth 12
Southeast Raleigh 31, Dudley 6
Southeast Guilford 42, Ragsdale 0
Southern Wayne 48, Spring Creek 8
Southside 27, North Edgecombe 20
SouthWest Edgecombe 42, Hertford County 7
Southwestern Randolph 49, Trinity 7
Starmount 27, East Surry 14
Swansboro 42, Pamlico County 14
Terry Sanford 42, Pine Forest 7
Thomasville 37, Cummings 30
Trinity Christian 30, Howard School 7
Tuscola 36, Cherokee 35
T.W. Andrews 18, North Forsyth 14
Walkertown 50, Parkland 16
Warren County 54, J.F.,Webb 24
Watauga 42, T.C. Roberson 0
West Brunswick 38, Whiteville 21
West Caldwell 26, Avery County 20
West Carteret 48, East Carteret 20
West Craven 33, Wilson Prep 8
West Davidson 43, Bishop McGuinness 20
West Johnston 26, Smithfield-Selma 0
West Stokes 49, South Stokes 0
Western Alamance 43, Southwest Guilford 13
Western Guilford 50, High Point Central 0
White Oak 34, Richlands 21
Wilkes Central 47, McMichael 14
Thursday’s NC scores
Arendell Parrott 60, Dixon 6
Asheboro 49, Northwood 7
Broughton 43, Green Level 14
Currituck County 21, Deep Creek (VA) 6
Dixon 57, Beddingfield 6
East Forsyth 33, Northern Guilford 10
East Rutherford 41, Blacksburg (SC) 6
Enloe 55, Knightdale 25
Fike 20, South Johnston 17
Fred T Foard 26, East Burke 18
Fuquay-Varina 28, Apex 2
Hayesville 21, Enka 20
J.H. Rose 38, Washington 14
Jacksonville 48, Northside-Jacksonville 27
John Paul II Catholic 42, Washington 14
Louisburg 31, Southeast Collegiate Prep 14
Madison 34, East Henderson 8
Martin County 60, Bertie 0
Mountain Heritage 30, Erwin 15
North Duplin 39, Rosewood 19
North Moore 22, Wake Prep 21
Northern Nash 40, Nash Central 7
Overhills 34, Harnett Central 19
Pinetown Northside 29, Manteo 20
Ridgeway (VA) Magna Vista 39, Rockingham County 0
Rocky Mount 20, East Wake 14
Starmount 27, East Surry 14
Tarboro 34, Hunt 17
Triton 35, Hobbton 21
Wake Christian 38, Halifax Academy 22
West Caldwell 26, Avery County 20
West Cateret 48, East Cateret 20
Western Harnett 29, Douglas Byrd 22
Wilkes Central 47, McMichael 14
Next week’s schedule
FRIDAY, SEPT. 5
Western Foothills 4A/5A
Bunker Hill at Hickory, 7:30 p.m.
Newton-Conover at East Lincoln, 7:30 p.m.
North Lincoln at Maiden, 7:30 p.m.
West Iredell at Fred T. Foard, 7:30 p.m.
Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A
East Gaston at Burhs, 7:30 p.m.
Shelby at Highland Tech, 7:30 p.m.
West Lincoln at Bessemer City, 7:30 p.m.
Mecklenburg nonconference
Ardrey Kell at Marvin Ridge
Asheville School at Ambassador Christian
Ben Smith at Charlotte Country Day
Berry Academy at Rocky River
Bonnie Cone Academy at Langtree Charter
Butler at Irmo (SC)
Chambers at Harding
Charlotte Catholic at Providence Day
Charlotte Christian at Independence
Clover (SC) at Palisades
Covenant Day at Metrolina Christian
Forest Hills at Community School of Davidson
Garinger at East Mecklenburg
Hickory Grove Christian at South Wake Saints
Hopewell at Statesville
Hough at Highland Springs (VA)
Hunter Huss at North Mecklenburg
Lake Norman Charter at North Rowan
Mallard Creek at Grayson (VA), 7:30 p.m.
Providence at Myers Park
S.C. Spartans at Christ the King
SouthLake Christian at Charlotte Latin
South Mecklenburg at Ballantyne Ridge
West Charlotte at South Pointe (SC), 7:30 p.m.
West Mecklenburg at Olympic
Nonconference
A.L. Brown at Mooresville
Ashbrook at Northwest Cabarrus
Cannon School at Ravenscroft School
Concord at North Gaston, 7:30 p.m.
Cuthbertson at Cox Mill
East Rowan at Piedmont
Hickory Ridge at South Iredell
Jay M. Robinson at A.C. Reynolds Lincoln Charter at Union Academy
Lincolnton at Cherryville, 7:30 p.m.
Mount Pleasant at Central Cabarrus
Mountain Island Charter at West Caldwell, 7:30 p.m.
North Iredell at East Wilkes, 7:30 p.m.
Parkwood at Sun Valley
Pine Lake Prep at Jesse Carson
Smoky Mountain at Forestview
South Point at T.C. Roberson
Weddington at Monroe
West Cabarrus at Lake Norman
West Forsyth at Porter Ridge
SATURDAY, SEPT. 6
Southeast Independent League’
Georgia Force at Cabarrus Stallions, 3:30 p.m
OPEN WEEK: Corvian Community, Stuart Cramer
This story was originally published August 29, 2025 at 5:30 AM.