Which are the top NC high school football teams heading into regular-season finales?
Heading into the final week of the high school football regular season, there are lots of changes to the N.C. statewide high school football polls.
Those changes include six new teams, three new No. 1 ranked teams and lots of changes in the eight polls.
The new teams include Clayton High (7-2) in 7A. Clayton is led by former Myers Park coach Scott Chadwick, who coached New England Patriots QB Drake Maye in high school. Chadwick stopped by The Observer’s Talking Preps show last week for an extended interview.
Chadwick’s Comets team beat Garner, 34-22, on Friday and plays county rival Cleveland (9-0, 5-0) for a conference title Friday.
Other new teams this week are: Freedom (8-1, 6A), St. Pauls (8-1, 5A), Northeast Guilford (7-2, 5A), East Duplin (7-2, 4A) and Northeastern (7-2, 3A).
In addition, there are three new No. 1 teams — KIPP Pride (9-0) in 1A, James Kenan (8-1) in 3A and Hickory (8-1) in 5A.
The rankings are sponsored by The Charlotte Observer and News & Observer of Raleigh and are compiled by longtime N.C. football expert Chris Hughes, a co-host of the Talking Preps show.
This week’s N.C. statewide rankings
CLASS 8A
Rk., School, Rec, Prvs.
1. Hough (9-0), 1
2. West Charlotte (7-2), 2
3. Millbrook (9-0), 3
4. Hoggard (9-0), 5
5. Myers Park (7-2), 4
6. West Forsyth (7-2), 7
7. Jordan (9-0), 6
8. Mallard Creek (6-3), 8
CLASS 7A
Rk., School, Rec., Prvs.
1. Grimsley (9-0), 1
2. Weddington (9-1), 2
3. Cleveland (9-0), 3
4. Mooresville (7-2), 4
5. Cardinal Gibbons (8-1), 5
6. Independence (7-2), 6
7. Richmond Senior (7-2), 8
8. Clayton (7-2), NR
CLASS 6A
Rk., School, Rec, Prvs.
1. Ashbrook (9-0), 1
2. Watauga (9-0), 2
3. Northern Nash (8-1), 3
4. Jacksonville (8-0), 5
5. Seventy-First (7-2), 4
6. Scotland (7-2), 6
7. Northern Guilford (8-1), 8
8. Freedom (8-1), NR
CLASS 5A
Rk., School, Rec, Prvs.
1. Hickory (8-1), 2
2. East Lincoln (9-1), 3
3. Crest (7-2), 1
4. South Point (7-2), 4
5. Northside-Jacksonville (8-1), 6
6. JM Robinson (8-1), 7
7. St. Paul’s (8-1), NR
8. Northeast Guilford (7-2), NR
CLASS 4A
Rk., School, Rec, Prvs.
1. Brevard (9-0), 1
2. Reidsville (7-2), 2
3. West Craven (8-1), 3
4. Hibriten (8-1), 4
5. Central Davidson (8-1), 5
6. East Duplin (7-2), NR
7. Pisgah (7-2), 7
8. Maiden (6-3), 6
CLASS 3A
Rk., School, Rec., Prvs.
1. James Kenan (8-1), 2
2. Mountain Heritage (8-1), 4
3. Walkertown (7-1), 1
4. East Rutherford (8-1), 3
5. Hendersonville (7-2), 5
6. Lincolnton (7-2), 6
7. Shelby (6-3), 7
8. Northeastern (7-2), NR
CLASS 2A
Rk., School, Rec, Prvs.
1. Tarboro (9-0), 1
2. Corvian Community (8-1), 2
3. Murphy (7-2), 3
4. Starmount (7-2), 4
5. East Wilkes (6-3), 5
6. North Duplin (8-1), 6
7. Alleghany (7-2), 7
8. Community School of Davidson (5-4), 8
CLASS 1A
Rk., School, Rec, Prvs.
1. KIPP Pride (9-0), 2
2. Robbinsville (6-3), 1
3. Northside (9-0), 3
4. Wilson Prep (4-5), 4
5. South Davidson (9-0), 5
6. Washington County (5-3), 6
7. Bear Grass Charter (8-0), 8
8. Southeast Halifax (5-4), 7
NCISAA
Rk., School, Rec, Prvs.
1. Providence Day (9-0), 1
2. High Point Christian (9-0), 4
3. Charlotte Christian (4-5), 3
4. Charlotte Country Day (6-2), 8
5. Charlotte Latin (7-2), 2
6. Asheville School (5-2-1), 5
7. Trinity Christian (6-1), 7
8. Cannon School (5-4), 6
