JM Robinson makes a big move in final regular-season Sweet 16 football poll
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- JM Robinson jumps to No. 10 after nine straight wins and a 391-77 scoring edge.
- After an early loss to Myers Park, Robinson has outscored opponents by 43-8 weekly.
- Observer Sweet 16 issues final regular-season rankings; champion earns gym banner.
Way back on Aug. 23, Jay M. Robinson lost, 37-6, to 8A Myers Park at Memorial Stadium.
Myers Park was coming off a 4-6 season and the thinking was that maybe Robinson — ranked highly in nearly every 5A preseason poll — was a little overrated.
As it turns out, Myers Park is a top five 8A team and Robinson, which jumps three spots to No. 10 in this week’s Observer’s Sweet 16 regional football poll, is just fine.
Actually maybe more than just fine.
The Bulldogs have won nine straight games, and other than a 14-0 win over Salisbury in September, no opponent has really come close. Friday night, Robinson beat Northwest Cabarrus 56-6 and since that opening-night loss, the Bulldogs are outscoring teams 391-77 or an average of 43-8 per week.
Is there a hotter team in North Carolina heading into the playoffs next week?
Note: The Sweet 16, which began in 1984, ranks the top schools in The Observer’s coverage area, which includes NCHSAA and NCISAA schools in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln and Union counties. The polls are compiled by longtime N.C. high school football expert Chris Hughes, a co-host of the media company’s Talking Preps high school football show.
This is the final ranking until after the season, when a champion is named. The winner will receive a large banner to hang in the school’s gym.
This week’s rankings
Rk., School, Rec., Prvs.
1. Providence Day (10-0), 1
2. Hough (10-0), 2
3. West Charlotte (8-2), 3
4. Weddington (9-1), 4
5. Mooresville (8-2), 5
6. Independence (8-2), 6
7. Ashbrook (10-0), 7
8. Myers Park (8-2), 8
9. East Lincoln (9-1), 9
10. JM Robinson (9-1), 13
11. Lake Norman (7-3), 10
12. Mallard Creek (7-3), 11
13. Providence (7-3), 15
14. South Point (8-2), 12
15. Corvian Community (8-1), 14
16. Palisades (7-3), 16
This story was originally published November 2, 2025 at 7:25 AM.
