Here are the nominees for The Observer’s high school football player of the week (09.12.25)

Here are the nominees for The Charlotte Observer high school football player of the week after Week 3 of the high school football season.

The poll will remain open until noon Thursday. You can vote as often as you want.

The winner will have a feature story done on him by the media company later this week.

This week’s nominees

Jacob Baggett, Providence Day: In a 32-7 win over Charlotte Catholic, Baggett had a 46-yard punt, was 2-for-2 on extra points and knocked all six of his kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.

James Bailey, East Mecklenburg: Bailey ran 10 times for 68 yards and a game-winning touchdown in a 21-16 win over Garinger. East Mecklenburg ended a six-game losing streak, dating to last season.

Gavin Barber, Mooresville: In a 52-13 win over AL Brown, Barber caught six passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Also, QB Brody Norman was 13 for 13 for 273 yards and five touchdowns.

Kaden Craft, Lake Norman: In a 56-16 win over West Cabarrus, Craft completed of 12 of 18 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns. He ran four times for 71 yards and another score. Lake Norman is 3-0 and plays at Independence Friday.

Jared Curtis, Ardrey Kell: In a 15-3 win over Marvin Ridge, Curtis was 19 of 26 passing for 319 yards and two touchdowns. Khy’lieb Rodriguez caught seven passes for 163 yards and two scores.

Haze Dodson, Lake Norman Charter: Freshman running back had 28 carries for 182 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-26 win over North Rowan.

Jason Eaton, Mountain Island Charter: In a 49-22 win over West Caldwell, Eaton had 12 tackles, including seven for a loss and five sacks.

Quincy Fortenberry, Hunter Huss: In an 11-7 win at North Mecklenburg, Fortenberry, a junior running back, had 15 carries for 93 yards and caught three passes for 19 yards.

Carter Gillis, South Mecklenburg: In a 51-22 win over Ballantyne Ridge, Gillis was 12 of 14 passing for 334 yards and had six total touchdowns. South Meck, which hasn’t had a winning season since going 9-3 in 2021, is 2-1 withtwo consecutive victories.

James Johnson, Ambassador Christian: In a 33-33 tie with Asheville Christian, Johnson had 12 tackles, forced a fumble and had a punt return.

Jaxon Lee, Hickory Grove: In a 27-0 win at South Wake Friday, Lee completed 7 of 10 passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns.

London McElroy, JM Robinson: In a 49-21 at Asheville Reynolds, McElroy caught three passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns

Achilles Morales, Charlotte Country Day: In a 31-15 win over Greensboro’s Ben L. Smith, Morales completed 11 of 20 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns.

Kylan Polk, Forest Hills: In a 36-25 win over Community School of Davidson, Polk ran 32 times for a school-record 379 yards and four touchdowns. He also had a 54-yard kickoff return.

Kaleb Poole, Piedmont: In a 47-7 win over East Rowan, Poole played three quarters. He ran five times for 71 yards and a touchdown. He caught four passes for 107 yards and another score.

Zahir Smith, Olympic: In a 20-0 win over West Mecklenburg, Smith ran 18 times for 198 yards and a touchdown to help the Trojans get their first win of the season.

Jared Street, Independence: In a wild 35-34 win over Independence, Street completed 14 of 22 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns. He ran seven times for 70 yards on a night when the Patriots were without star tailback Jayden Jones, the preseason Mecklenburg County public school offensive player of the year.

Justin Westbrook, Myers Park: In a 45-7 win over Providence, Westbrook had four total tackles, a pass breakup, a 54-yard pick 6, a blocked punt and a fumble return for a touchdown.

Jamarius Wilson, Lincolnton: In a 28-0 win over Cherryville, Wilson had a team-high 18 tackles, with 15 of them being solos. He had four tackles for a loss, a sack and two quarterback hurries.

Previous winners

Week 1: Jad Aljakhbeer, Ardrey Kell

Week 2: Weston Michalak, Ambassador Christian

How to vote

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This story was originally published September 8, 2025 at 1:22 PM.