10 new teams join NC statewide high school football rankings heading to Week 5

There are 10 new teams in the N.C. statewide high school football polls as teams get ready for Week 5 of the 2025 season.

There are also three new teams ranked atop the eight polls: Watauga (3-0) tops the 6A poll; East Lincoln (4-0) moves to No. 1 in 5A; and in the 1A poll, Northside (4-0) moves up one spot to the top.

The rankings are compiled by longtime N.C. high school football expert Chris Hughes, a co-host of The Observer’s Talking Preps streaming show.

NC statewide polls

CLASS 1A

Rk., School, Rec, Prvs.

1. Northside (4-0), 2

2. Robbinsville (2-2), 1

3. Wilson Prep (0-4), 3

4. KIPP Pride (3-0), 4

5. Southeast Halifax (3-1), 5

6. Sallie B. Howard (2-2), 6

7. South Davidson (4-0), 7

8. Washington County (2-2), NR

CLASS 2A

Rk., School, Rec., Prvs.

1. Tarboro (4-0), 1

2. Corvian Community (2-1), 2

3. Murphy (2-2), 3

4. Starmount (2-1), 4

5. Community School of Davidson (1-3), 5

6. North Duplin (4-0), 8

7. East Wilkes (1-2), 6

8. Alleghany (3-0), 7

CLASS 3A

Rk., School, Rec, Prvs.

1. Shelby (2-2), 1

2. Walkertown (4-0), 3

3. Northeastern (3-1), 2

4. James Kenan (2-1), 5

5. Mountain Heritage (3-1), 4

6. East Rutherford (2-1), 7

7. Lincolnton (3-1), NR

8. Greene Central (4-0), NR

CLASS 4A

Rk, School, Rec., Prvs.

1. Brevard (3-0), 1

2. West Craven (3-1), 2

3. Reidsville (1-2), 3

4. Maiden (3-1), 5

5. Hibriten (3-0), 6

6. Pisgah (3-1), NR

7. East Duplin (3-1), 4

8. Bandys (1-2), 7

CLASS 5A

Rk., School, Rec, Prvs.

1. East Lincoln (4-0), 4

2. Crest (3-1), 1

3. South Point (3-0), 2

4. Hickory (3-1), 3

5. Forest HIlls (4-0), 5

6. Franklin (3-1), NR

7. Southern Nash (3-1), 9

8. JM Robinson (2-1), NR

CLASS 6A

Rk., School, Rec, Prvs.

1. Watauga (3-0), 3

2. Terry Sanford (3-1), 1

3. Seventy-First (3-1), 2

4. Northern Guilford (3-1), 7

5. Northern Nash (2-1), 4

6. Ashbrook (4-0), 5

7. Jacksonville (3-0), NR

8. Scotland (3-1), 8

CLASS 7A

Rk., School, Rec., Prvs.

1. Grimsley (3-0), 1

2. Cardinal Gibbons (4-0), 2

3. Cleveland (4-0), 3

4. Weddington (3-1), 4

5. Independence (3-1), 5

6. East Forsyth (3-1), NR

7. Jack Britt (3-1), NR

8. Lake Norman (3-1), 8

CLASS 8A

Rk., School, Rec., Prvs.

1. Hough (4-0), 1

2. Mallard Creek (3-1), 3

3. Myers Park (3-1), 2

4. West Charlotte (2-2), 4

5. Millbrook (3-0), 5

6. Hoggard (4-0), 6

7. Jordan (4-0), 7

8. West Forsyth (3-1), NR