Thursday’s rewind: NC scores, how the Sweet 16 fared, Friday’s schedule

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools ended regular-season high school football play Thursday.

There weren’t many surprises:

1) Sweet 16 No. 1 Providence Day ran past Charlotte Country Day 56-0 to win the Big South 4A title outright.

2) No. 2 Hough beat Hopewell 56-0 to lock up the Greater Charlotte title outright.

3) No. 6 Independence beat rival Butler for the fourth time in five years, winning 41-7 in Matthews (expanded story below). The Patriots (8-2) have now won four in a row heading into the 7A playoffs. They are unbeaten against 7A competition.

4) Ballantyne Ridge ended a four-game losing streak, beating Rocky River 20-13. It was the second win in school history and the second win this season for the Wolves (2-8). Ballantyne Ridge finished 0-11 in the school’s first season in 2024.

5) West Mecklenburg beat Garinger, 24-7, to earn its first win of the season. The Hawks (1-9) last won on Nov. 1, 2024, when they beat Harding 53-0. Garinger finished 1-9, but ended an 48-game losing streak in coach Jupiter Wilson’s first season. The Wildcats also scored 106 points for the season. A year ago, Garinger scored 22.

6) In the feature game of the night, Providence beat rival Ardrey Kell to win the Southwestern 7A/8A conference title. Tap here for full coverage.

7) Olympic finished an unbeaten conference run with a 16-13 win at Hickory Ridge. Coach Brandon Thompson won his 50th game.

What’s next?

Many schools in the Charlotte-area and throughout the state finish play Friday.

The NCHSAA and NCISAA will release playoff schedules Sunday for the playoffs that begin Nov. 7.

NCHSAA schools will play Nov. 7, Nov. 14, Nov. 21, Nov. 28 and Dec. 5 before hosting state finals Dec. 11-13 at UNC, Lenoir-Rhyne and Durham County Stadium.

The 1A and 8A classes, which have fewer teams, will have a bye on Dec. 5 before state finals week. Given that schedule it would make the most sense of those finals to run Thursday, Dec. 11.

The NCISAA playoffs are Nov. 7 and Nov. 14 with state finals Nov. 21 at the higher seed. There are two Divisions. D1 schools have enrollment of 375 or more; D2 is 374 or less.

Talking Preps’ Thursday postgame show

How the Sweet 16 fared

Rk., School, Rec, Thurs/Fri

1. Providence Day (10-0): d. Charlotte Country Day 49-0

2. Hough (10-0): d. Hopewell 56-0

3. West Charlotte (8-2): d. North Meck 43-0

4. Weddington (9-1): idle

5. Mooresville (7-2): vs. Lake Norman, Fri

6. Independence (8-2): d. Butler 40-7

7. Ashbrook (9-0): at Hunter Huss, Fri

8. Myers Park (7-2): d. South Meck 40-14

9. East Lincoln (9-1): idle

10. Lake Norman (7-2) vs. Mooresville, Fri

11. Mallard Creek (7-3): d. Chambers 31-0

12. South Point (7-2): vs. Ambassador Christian at JC Smith, Fri.

13. JM Robinson (8-1): vs. Northwest Cabarrus, Fri

14. Corvian Community (8-1): idle

15. Providence (7-3): d. Ardrey Kell 28-14

16. Palisades (7-3): d. East Meck 42-6

Patriots wallop rival Butler 40-7

The Independence-Butler rivalry is in need of repair.

The sixth-ranked Patriots, clicking in nearly all phases of the game, handed Butler its worst loss in the east-side rivalry in 17 years, rolling 40-7.

Independence, which lost seven straight times to Butler between 2015 and 2021, has dominated the rivalry in recent years, winning four of the past five.

Independence’s offense efficiently piled up 373 total yards, and the defense held the Bulldogs to under 100 yards’ total offense until a late touchdown drive. The Patriots (8-2, 4-1 Charlotte Power Six 7A/8A) also forced three Butler turnovers in a decision so one-sided that the running clock was used for the game’s final period.

Jayden Jones ran for a pair of first-quarter touchdowns, and Jared Street threw two second-quarter touchdowns, as Independence powered to a 27-0 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs ignited their fifth touchdown drive with an interception early in the third quarter. Jones capped that march with a 26-yard touchdown dash.

Independence made it 40-0 on the final play of the third quarter, when Christian Liles hauled in a 29-yard pass from Street.

The victory essentially assured the Patriots of a first-round bye and two home games in the 7A playoffs.

Butler (4-6, 2-3) will make the postseason field, but the Bulldogs won’t have a bye and almost certainly will play on the road.

They averted a shutout when DeMaurion Thomas-Wright scored from 1 yard out with 4:30 to play.

Three who made a difference

Jayden Jones, Independence: Jones ran for two touchdowns and scored another on a pass reception. He rushed 13 times for 125 yards.

Jared Street, Independence: The Patriots’ quarterback completed 13 of 21 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns.

Eli Sellars, Independence: Sellars intercepted a pass and broke up two more Butler passes.

Just noting

Jayden Jones’ 38-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter was a thing of beauty. He changed directions twice and broke a pair of tackles on route to the end zone.

Running back DeMaurion Thomas-Wright was one of few bright spots for Butler, carring 21 times for 98 yards.

About the only problem for Independence in the game was kicking. The Patriots missed three extra-point conversion attempts.

The loss was the worst for Butler against Independence since a 49-7 drubbing in the 2008 playoffs.

No. 1 Hough 56, Hopewell 0 — Ethan Royal threw touchdown passes to Jayden White and Jahmere Anderson, Kaden Hornesby returned a punt 55 yards for a score, and the Huskies also got touchdowns on a fumble recovery and an interception. Hough, in contention to be the No. 1 seed in the 8A playoffs, finished Greater Charlotte 7A/8A play with a 5-0 record (10-0 overall). Hopewell fell to 4-6, 2-3.

No. 3 West Charlotte 43, North Mecklenburg 0— Jamil Watson scored on runs of 9, 28 and 5 yards, and Jamouri Nichols threw two touchdown passes, as the Lions (8-2, 5-0) capped a perfect season in the Charlotte Power Six 7A/8A. Nichols threw scoring passes for Jeremy Hill and Donte Nicholson, and Landon Gilmore got the other Lions’ score. North Mecklenburg finished the regular season 3-7, 0-5.

No. 11 Mallard Creek 31, Chambers 0— Matthew Harris scored on a pick-six, and Khalil Price had two touchdown catches, as the Mavericks (7-3, 3-2 Charlotte Power Six 7A/8A) blanked their north-side rivals. Chambers fell to 4-6, 1-4.

No. 16 Palisades 42, East Mecklenburg 6 — The Pumas (7-3, 4-1) spotted East Mecklenburg (3-7, 1-4) a 6-0 lead, then roared back for a Southwestern 7A/8A victory. Cole Hough threw three touchdown passes, and Mitchell Landrum and Jamari Glover scored on runs. Clarence Drakeford returned an interception 25 yards for Palisades’ other touchdown.

A.L. Brown 20, West Cabarrus 10 — The Wonders (7-3, 6-1) finished second in the Greater Metro 6A/7A, as A.J. Settle threw two touchdown passes and Lemar Grier ran for a score. Grier’s touchdown, on a 3-yard run, gave A.L. Brown its final points after West Cabarrus (5-5, 5-2) had closed an early gap to 13-10.

Community School of Davidson 42, Pine Lake Prep 0 — Lawson Sherman ran for two touchdowns, and the Spartan defense scored a pair of touchdowns in this Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A game. Cade Rasmussen scored on a 22-yard fumble return, and Brennan Davis returned an interception 24 yards for a touchdown. Pine Lake Prep fell to 2-8, 2-4.

Monroe 21, Forest Hills 0 — The Redhawks (6-3, 5-0) wrapped up the Rocky River 4A/5A championship and continued their domination of this Union County rivalry, beating the Yellow Jackets (8-2, 3-2) for the 15th straight time. Quarterback Brayden Graceffa threw a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and set up a second-quarter score with a 51-yard pass play.

Friday’s feature rivalry game

No. 5 Mooresville (7-2, 4-0 North Piedmont 6A/7A) at No. 10 Lake Norman (7-2, 4-0), 7 p.m. – This has become one of the region’s top rivalry games, although Mooresville has won the last four meetings. QB Brody Norman leads the high-scoring offense, but the defense does well, too, with Maddox Blackburn (12 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack last week).

Lake Norman made its mark with an option-oriented ground attack in recent seasons, but the Wildcats have added an air wing to the offense this fall. QB Kaden Craft has thrown for 1,423 yards and 15 touchdowns. Naturally, Lake Norman still runs the ball well (Allen Jones has rushed for 612 yards).

Friday’s Mecklenburg games

Bonnie Cone Leadership (0-9, 0-6 Catawba-Yadkin Valley 1A/2A/3A) at Thomas Jefferson Academy (3-6, 1-5), 7:30 p.m. – The conference’s two bottom teams square off in Mooresboro. Bonnie Cone Academy will try to stop the Gryphons’ effective short passing game.

Charlotte Catholic (5-4, 2-3 Southern Carolina 6A/7A) at Piedmont (2-7, 0-5), 7 p.m. – Piedmont has gone from a run-first team to more of a diverse attack, as QB Jack Blakeslee has thrown for 1,270 yards and Kaleb Poole has 37 catches. Charlotte Catholic’s offense has sputtered in recent weeks, but the defense has thrived. Caden O’Neill had 14 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and three defended passes last week.

Charlotte Christian (4-5, 1-1 Big South) at Charlotte Latin (7-2, 0-2), 7 p.m. – The host Hawks are trying to right the ship after two straight conference losses. QB Troy Logan (1,469 passing yards, 20 touchdowns) and RB Dejon Douglas (13 yards short of 1,000) lead the attack. The Latin defense will have to stop the Knights’ RB Jamal Rule, who carried for 284 yards two weeks ago and ran well last Friday against unbeaten Providence Day.

Covenant Day (2-7, 1-2 Big Five) at High Point Christian (9-0, 3-0), 7 p.m. – This is a tough spot for Covenant Day, as the host Cougars have the look of a strong NCISAA state championship contender. Covenant Day’s big job is to stop Cougar RB Jaylen Moore, who has rushed for 1,715 yards and 25 touchdowns and has carried for more than 100 yards in each game.

Lake Norman Charter (4-5, 2-3) vs. Lincoln Charter (3-6, 1-4), at Lenoir-Rhyne University, 7 p.m. – This has the makings of a future rivalry. Lake Norman Charter’s Dorian Morgan had 218 receiving yards two weeks ago and added a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown. He can score from anywhere on the field. High-scoring Lincoln Charter is led by sophomore QB Braydon Walden (1,555 passing yards, 15 touchdowns).

Langtree Charter (1-8, 0-5 Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A) at Christ the King (6-3, 3-2), 7 p.m. – In its first season of varsity football, Langtree Charter has found a few standouts on its young roster. That includes sophomore QB Easton Roschke, who has thrown for 1,507 yards. Christ the King has several excellent two-way players, including Brennan Wallace, who rushed for 168 yards two weeks ago and also had 14 tackles.

Metrolina Christian (2-7) at Hickory Grove Christian (6-2), 7 p.m. – Metrolina Christian’s defense, featuring Kylen McCotter (67 tackles) and Jason Williams (64 tackles), tries to stop a Lion offense led by Nathan Dowdy, who rushed for 275 yards two weeks ago.

No. 12 South Point (7-2) vs. Ambassador Christian (5-3-1), at Johnson C. Smith University, 7 p.m. – What a contrast in offensive styles? South Point runs the ball on about 95% of its offensive snaps. Kadeaun Pless rushed for 176 yards two weeks ago and is the Raiders’ mean threat. Ambassador Christian does its damage in the air. Freshman QB Weston Michalak has thrown for 2,134 yards and 19 touchdowns. This will be the Lions’ first game against a public school team in North Carolina.

South Wake Lions (0-8) at SouthLake Christian (2-7), 7 p.m. – The Eagles hope to finish the regular season on a winning note. South Wake has scored only 53 points this season, and the Lions face a SouthLake defense led by Jimmy Lapeluca (89 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries).

Friday – Outside Mecklenburg County

Northwest Cabarrus (7-2, 5-1 South Piedmont 5A/6A) at No. 13 Jay M. Robinson (8-1, 6-0), 7 p.m. – The visiting Trojans hope to gain a share of the conference championship, but they’ve lost four in a row to Robinson. The Trojans threw the ball well in last week’s 23-21 loss to West Rowan (Hudson Irwin completed 23 of 41 for 290 yards) but had trouble running. This week, they face a strong Bulldog defense, featuring players like Isaiah Woodburn, who had 10 tackles and two sacks last Friday.

Talking Preps preview show

The picks

THURSDAY’S CHARLOTTE-AREA SCORES

Charlotte Power Six 7A/8A

Independence 41, Butler 7

Mallard Creek 31, Chambers 0

West Charlotte 43, North Mecklenburg 0

Greater Charlotte 7A/8A

Hough 56, Hopewell 0

Myers Park 40, South Mecklenburg 14

West Mecklenburg 24, Garinger 7

Southwestern 7A/8A

Ballantyne Ridge 20, Rocky River 13

Palisades 42, East Mecklenburg 6

Providence 28, Ardrey Kell 14

Greater Metro 6A/7A

A.L. Brown 20, West Cabarrus 10

Cox Mill 28, Berry 0

Central Cabarrus 51, Harding 8

Olympic 16, Hickory Ridge 13

North Piedmont 6A/7A

Statesville 43, North Iredell 6

Big South (NCISAA)

Providence Day 49, Charlotte Country Day 0

Rocky River 4A/5A

Monroe 21, Forest Hills 0

Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A

Community School of Davidson 42, Pine Lake Prep 0

Yadkin Valley 1A/2A/3A

North Rowan 30, Mountain Island Charter 21

North Stanly 55, Bonnie Cone Leadership 6

THURSDAY’S RALEIGH-AREA SCORES

Quad City Seven 8A

Apex Friendship 17, Panther Creek 0

Green Hope 44, Green Level 22

Jordan 43, Willow Spring 3

Tobacco Road 6A/7A

Riverside 43, Northern Durham 6

Southern Durham 49, Chapel Hill 10

Northern Six 6A/7A

East Wake 6, Knightdale 0

Triangle Six 6A/7A

Cardinal Gibbons 46, Cary 0

Middle Creek 37, Holly Springs 7

Big Seven 4A/5A

Seaforth 57, Carrboro 0

South Granville 20, JF Webb 8

Three Rivers 4A

SouthWest Edgecombe 49, North Johnston 20

Quad County 2A/3A/4A

Bunn 42, Roanoke Rapids 8

Swine Valley 2A/3A

Midway 56, Goldsboro 14

Big East (NCISAA)

North Raleigh Christian 42, Ravenscroft 28

Non-conference

Sanderson 69, Mount Zion 0

THURSDAY’S NC SCORES

CB Aycock 49, Southern Wayne 8

Christ Church (VA) 42, Mt Zion (Gastonia) 0

Currituck County 48, First Flight 7

Eastern Randolph 49, Jordan-Matthews 0

Farmville Central 31, Ayden-Grifton 27

Greene Central 55, Beddingfield 14

Holmes 43, Manteo 7

Jacksonville 34, White Oak 8

KIPP Pride 46, Northampton County 18

Martin County 29, Hertford County 16

New Bern 21, South Central 3

Northside-Pinetown 64, Jones 0

Perquimans 56, Bertie 30

Ragsdale 44, Southwest Guilford 13

Southwestern Randolph 32, North Moore 13

Southside 27, Lejeune 6

TW Andrews 72, High Point Central 0

West Carteret 29, Northwood 21

Wilson Prep 50, North Edgecombe 0

Winston-Salem Prep 20, Chatham Central 7

FRIDAY’S CHARLOTTE-AREA SCHEDULE

North Piedmont 6A/7A

Davie County (5-4, 2-2) at South Iredell (3-6, 1-3)

Mooresville (7-2, 4-0) at Lake Norman (7-2, 4-0)

Southern Carolina 6A/7A

Charlotte Catholic (5-4, 2-3) at Piedmont (2-7, 0-6)

Cuthbertson (3-6, 1-4) at Marvin Ridge (4-5, 2-3)

Sun Valley (6-3, 4-1) at Porter Ridge (6-3, 3-2)

Big South (NCISAA)

Charlotte Christian (4-5, 1-1) at Charlotte Latin (7-2, 0-2)

Big South 5A/6A

Ashbrook (9-0, 5-0) at Hunter Huss (5-4, 2-3)

Crest (7-2, 4-1) at Kings Mountain (6-3, 3-2), 7:30 p.m.

North Gaston (1-8, 0-5) at Forestview (1-8, 0-5), 7:30 p.m.

Big Six (NCISAA)

Covenant Day (2-7, 1-2) at High Point Christian (9-0, 3-0)

Western Piedmont (NCISAA)

Cannon School (5-4, 1-1) at Christ School (3-6, 0-1)

Rocky River 4A/5A

Mount Pleasant (6-3, 3-1) at West Stanly (1-8, 0-4)

Parkwood (2-7, 1-3) at Anson County (1-8, 1-3)

South Piedmont 4A/5A

Concord (5-4, 4-2) at East Rowan (4-5, 2-4)

Jesse Carson (4-5, 2-4) at South Rowan (3-6, 0-6)

Northwest Cabarrus (7-2, 5-1) at Jay M. Robinson (8-1, 6-0)

Salisbury (2-7, 1-5) at West Rowan (5-4, 4-2)

Western Foothills 4A/5A

Bandys (5-4, 4-3) at Hickory (8-1, 7-0).

Bunker Hill (1-8, 0-7) at West Iredell (4-5, 2-5)

Fred T. Foard (3-6, 1-6) at North Lincoln (1-8, 1-6), 7:30 p.m.

Maiden (6-3, 5-2) at Newton-Conover (7-2, 5-2), 7:30 p.m.

Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A

Lake Norman Charter (4-5, 2-3) vs. Lincoln Charter (3-6, 1-4), at Lenoir-Rhyne Univ.

Langtree Charter (1-8, 0-5) at Christ the King (6-3, 3-2)

Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A

Burns (6-3, 6-1) at Shelby (6-3, 6-1), 7:30 p.m.

Cherryville (4-5, 2-5) at Bessemer City (1-8, 0-7), 7:30 p.m.

Lincolnton (7-2, 6-1) at West Lincoln (5-4, 4-3), 7:30 p.m.

Stuart Cramer (7-2, 5-2) at East Gaston (2-7, 2-5), 7:30 p.m.

Yadkin Valley 1A/2A/3A

Bonnie Cone Academy (0-9, 0-6) at Thomas Jefferson Academy (3-6, 1-5), 7:30 p.m.

South Stanly (7-2, 5-1) at Albemarle (4-5, 2-4)

Union Academy (4-5, 2-4) at North Stanly (7-2, 5-1)

Nonconference

San Juan (PR) Legacy Sports at Rabun Gap School (5-4)

Metrolina Christian (2-7) at Hickory Grove Christian (6-2)

South Point (7-2) vs. Ambassador Christian (5-3-1), at Johnson C. Smith Univ.

South Wake Lions (0-8) at SouthLake Christian (2-7)

OPEN WEEK: Cabarrus Stallions, Corvian Community, East Lincoln, Highland Tech, Weddington

FRIDAY’S RALEIGH-AREA SCHEDULE

Cap 8A

Athens Drive at Wakefield

Enloe at Rolesville

Leesville Road at Broughton

Millbrook at Corinth Holders

Greater Neuse 7A

Cleveland at Clayton, 7:30 p.m.

Garner at Fuquay-Varina, 7:30 p.m.

South Garner at Southeast Raleigh

Tobacco Road 6A/7A

East Chapel Hill at Hillside

Northern Six 6A/7A

Franklinton at Vance County

Heritage at Wake Forest

Carolina Pines 6A

Harnett Central at Triton

Lee County at Southern Lee, 7:30 p.m.

West Johnston at South Johnston

Western Harnett at Union Pines, 7:30 p.m.

Big Seven 4A/5A

Orange at Cedar Ridge

Three Rivers 4A

Washington at North Pitt

West Craven at Eastern Wayne

Quad County 2A/3A/4A

American Leadership/Johnston at Nash Central

Wake Prep at Louisburg

Swine Valley 2A/3A

Rosewood at Princeton

Wallace-Rose Hill at James Kenan

Big East (NCISAA)

Harrells Christian at Trinity Christian

Other games

Asheville Christian at GRACE Christian

Pungo Christian at Wake Christian

St. David’s at Cary Christian

South Wake Lions at SouthLake Christian

Wayne Prep at North Wake Saints

Open date: Apex, North Lenoir, Smithfield-Selma, Spring Creek

This story was originally published October 30, 2025 at 6:00 AM.