Round 3 of the NC football playoffs is complete. Get scores, coverage, schedule

The game of the year is all set up.

Since August, the matchup that Charlotte-area high school fans have been talking about the most wasn’t one that was on the schedule.

But everybody wanted to see what might happen if Hough and West Charlotte ever did play.

Both teams started the season at Bank of America Stadium — against different opponents.

West Charlotte lost a close game to Greensboro’s Grimsley High. Hough won a close game against Rock Hill’s South Pointe High.

Grimsley is a N.C. 7A team and South Pointe plays in the S.C. playoffs.

So the only way the 8A Huskies from Hough and 8A Lions from West Charlotte could meet was in the playoffs.

Now they’ll meet for the chance to go the state championship game.

Hough has never been. West Charlotte won last year.

This could be one of the biggest games in Mecklenburg County in nearly 20 years, back to when Butler and Independence were nationally-ranked and played some very high profile games at several venues throughout the county.

Buckle up.

Quick links

The Talking Preps postgame show

West Charlotte controls Myers Park, advances

Hough starts slow, rolls past West Forsyth

Providence Day dominates Christian, wins state title

Charlotte-area all-conference teams

Community School player chasing rare feat

How good was Providence Day?

Providence Day beat Charlotte Christian, 42-6, in the private school state finals.

Providence Day has won four of the past state finals and had its first 13-0 team.

The Chargers, ranked among the nation’s top 20 teams (and likely to rise), outscored teams 592-133 this season. They beat Pennsylvania power Roman Catholic to start the year and Roman Catholic won Friday night to reach the state semifinals up east.

Providence Day beat Rolesville and Charlotte Catholic, who played in N.C. third round playoff games, and they beat a Rabun Gap (GA) team that’s been nationally-ranked this season.

So where do these Chargers rank all-time? It’s too fresh right now to really dive in, but certainly within the top 10 teams from Charlotte in the Sweet 16 era since 1984 and maybe top 5.

Consider this: Other than Roman Catholic, no team came within 20 points of Providence Day all season.

Friday’s roundup

Independence and Weddington are headed to a Class 7A playoff showdown next week, after each team easily disposed of its opponent in Friday night’s third round.

Other Charlotte-area teams that will be playing football on Thanksgiving weekend are Ashbrook and Sun Valley in 6A; South Point and Jay M. Robinson in 5A; Lincolnton in 3A; and Corvian Community in 2A.

Here is how Charlotte-area teams fared in Friday’s third round:

CLASS 7A

Independence 52, Richmond Senior 18: The third-seeded Patriots (10-2) advanced behind a sensational performance by senior running back Jayden Jones.

Jones rushed 17 times for 190 yards and three touchdowns, and he also grabbed one of three touchdowns thrown by Jared Street.

Richmond Senior (9-3) took a 3-0 lead on a Jake Veach field goal, but Independence went ahead to stay on a 29-yard run by Jones late in the first quarter.

The Patriots added 17 second-quarter points on a Jones run, a pick-six, and a 35-yard Jackson Finney field goal.

Jones befuddled the Raiders’ defense in the second half, scoring on a 71-yard run and a 37-yard pass from Street. Noah Wright and King Rhodes II also scored on passes in the second half.

Weddington 42, Lake Norman 7: Second-seeded Weddington (11-1) raced to a 35-0 halftime lead and cruised into next Friday’s home game with Independence.

Walker Powell threw a 55-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, and a 34-yard Powell pass set up the Warriors’ third touchdown, on an 11-yard run by Brody Anson.

Powell connected with Jon Manley on a 35-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and the Warriors scored on a punt return in the second half.

Lake Norman (8-4) avoided a shutout by scoring on Kaden Craft’s 7-yard run with nine minutes left.

CLASS 6A

Ashbrook 15, Dudley 7: Unbeaten and third seed Ashbrook (12-0) spotted Dudley (8-5) a 7-2 lead in the first quarter, then battled back for the victory.

The Green Wave allowed Dudley to move into Ashbrook territory only once in the second half.

Ashbrook took a 2-0 lead on a safety, then fell behind 7-2 in the opening period. The Green Wave went ahead to stay on Martino Smith’s 14-yard touchdown run and Uziel Garcia’s conversion kick with four minutes left in the half.

Garcia added a 35-yard field goal in the final minute of the half, and Ashbrook led 12-7.

The only second-half scoring came on a 33-yard Garcia field goal late in the third quarter.

Sun Valley 46, Freedom 20: The fifth-seeded Spartans (9-3) built a 26-7 halftime lead over the fourth-seeded and host Patriots (10-2), then broke it open by scoring on a pick-six and a long run in the first three minutes of the third quarter.

Sun Valley will travel to unbeaten and top-seeded Watauga next Friday.

Watauga 27, Charlotte Catholic 19: The host Pioneers (12-0) scored on a 10-yard interception return with 21 seconds left, stopping a comeback effort by eighth seed Charlotte Catholic (7-5).

Watauga led 14-0 early in the second quarter, but the Cougars got on the scoreboard on a 5-yard run by Garrett Nowlan.

Chase Kummer then threw a 75-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter, cutting Watauga’s lead to 21-13. Charlotte Catholic scored again with four minutes left in the game, on a 1-yard run by Kummer. But the Pioneers stopped the Cougars’ two-point conversion try.

Charlotte Catholic got the ball back with about a minute to play, but that drive ended with the interception.

CLASS 5A

Crest 31, East Lincoln 14: Crest (10-2) raced to a 24-0 halftime lead, scoring on an Ely Hamrick-to-Brock Melton touchdown pass and runs by Jason Black and Michael Edwards, along with a field goal.

East Lincoln (10-2) battled back in the third quarter, scoring on a short run and on a 30-yard Grant Lawless pass. That cut the deficit to 24-14.

The Mustangs drove to the Crest 30 late in the third quarter but fumbled the ball away.

Crest then scored on a Black touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.

Jay M. Robinson 41, Oak Grove 33: The second-seeded Bulldogs (11-1) rallied with two touchdowns in the final eight minutes and held off Oak Grove (9-4).

The Grizzlies took a 33-27 lead on a touchdown run with nine minutes left. But Jay M. Robinson, facing its toughest battle since a season-opening loss to Myers Park, rallied. Quarterback Aury Greenfield scored on a short run with eight minutes left, and Ryse Szabo’s conversion kick put the Bulldogs on top 34-33.

Greenfield then threw a touchdown pass to Londyn McElroy with four minutes left, and Szabo added the extra point.

The Bulldog defense shut down Oak Grove on its final two possessions.

South Point 61, Monroe 42: Monroe’s reign as state champion came to an end, as South Point’s ground attack proved too difficult to stop.

Monroe (7-4), the 2024 2A champion, bolted to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but Patrick Blee scored on a pair of touchdown runs and the score was tied 14-14 at the end of the period.

After Monroe went back in front 21-14 on a Braydon Gracella touchdown pass, Blee added his third, fourth and fifth touchdowns of the night on runs of 11, 6 and 13 yards. That put South Point up 33-21 at the half.

Kaveaun Pless and Blee scored on runs in the third quarter, before a Gracella touchdown pass brought Monroe within 47-28.

But Pless scored on a pair of runs, giving the Raiders a 61-28 lead. Gracella threw two more touchdown passes for Monroe in the fourth quarter.

CLASS 4A

Hibriten 14, Stuart Cramer 9: The second-seeded Panthers (11-1) held off the Storm (9-3) in a defensive battle.

Hibriten took a 14-3 lead with six minutes left in the third quarter on a 29-yard run by D.K. Mitchell. Stuart Cramer then drove for a touchdown, scoring on Clee Phillips’ 6-yard run with 11 minutes left in the game. The Storm’s two-point conversion attempt failed, however, and Hibriten’s defense held the rest of the way.

Pisgah 22, Mount Pleasant 15 (OT): The visiting Tigers (8-4) rallied with a touchdown in the closing minutes but missed the conversion kick, sending the game to overtime.

Pisgah (9-3) scored on a pass on its possession in overtime, then stopped Mount Pleasant. The Tigers had the ball at the Pisgah 5 on fourth down, but a potential touchdown pass fell incomplete.

CLASS 3A

Lincolnton 37, Mountain Heritage 36: For the second week in a row, Lincolnton (10-2) eked out a one-point playoff victory. This time, it came against the 3A West’s top seed.

Mountain Heritage (10-2) took a 28-23 lead late in the third quarter, but Lincolnton’s Nehemiah Thompson scored on an 11-yard run with 10 minutes left in the game, and Darey Trejo added the conversion kick for a 30-28 lead.

Mountain Heritage then regained the lead, 36-30, on a touchdown and two-point conversion with eight minutes to play.

Lincolnton tied the game with five minutes left, on a 30-yard pass from Rashad Lynch to his brother, R.J. Trejo’s conversion kick gave the Wolves their winning point.

Mountain Heritage threw only two passes in the game.

CLASS 2A

Corvian Community 31, East Wilkes 28: Tyson Douglas-Brown threw two touchdown passes, and Cooper Peterson kicked a decisive 44-yard field goal, as the fifth-seeded Cardinals (10-1) advanced to a matchup next Friday with top seed Murphy.

Desmond Walker scored first for Corvian Community, on a 1-yard run. Douglas-Brown then connected with Cameron Simpson on a 16-yard scoring toss. A 5-yard touchdown run by Kelvin Stinson gave Corvian a 21-7 lead in the second quarter.

East Wilkes scored again, but the Cardinals went up 28-24 on a 47-yard pass from Douglas-Brown to Reginal Grier III shortly before halftime.

Peterson’s field goal put Corvian up 31-14 late in the third quarter, before East Wilkes rallied with two touchdowns. The hosts had a chance to tie the game but missed a 34-yard field goal with 42 seconds left.

Mitchell 28, Mountain Island Charter 15: Mitchell (9-4) scored on a pair of runs in the fourth quarter, expanding their 14-8 lead to 28-8. Mountain Island Charter (7-6) managed to close the gap in the final minute on a 15-yard pass from An’Dre Ramseur to Joe Oliver II.

The Raptors’ first touchdown came on a 15-yard run by Aamir Gilcreast.

Murphy 54, Community School of Davidson 20: Top-seeded Murphy (10-2) pulled away in the second half against the ninth-seeded Spartans (7-5).

Ty Sigler’s 45-yard touchdown pass to Sam Mack in the first quarter tied the game 6-6, and the Spartans pulled back into a tie, 13-13, on Nixon Willis’ 6-yard run late in the first quarter.

Murphy scored twice in the first four minutes of the second quarter, but Community School of Davidson closed to 25-20 on a 4-yard run by Willis.

The host Bulldogs added another touchdown before the half, for a 33-20 lead, and the Spartans didn’t score again. Cameron Glen iced the game for Murphy with three touchdown runs in the second half.

Providence Day kicker sets NC record

Providence Day’s Jacob Baggett set a new N.C. record with his 90th kickoff for a touchback during Friday’s state championship game with Charlotte Christian.

The previous record was 89 set eight years ago by North Davidson’s Christopher Dunn.

Baggett recently got an offer from Kentucky on a visit there.

SCORES, UPCOMING SCHEDULE

NCHSAA playoffs

CLASS 8A

Friday’s quarterfinals

West

Hough 28, West Forsyth 10

West Charlotte 34, Myers Park 21

East

Hoggard 40, Rolesville 14

Millbrook 27, Jordan 10

Next Friday’s regional finals

West

West Charlotte (10-2) at Hough (12-0)

East

Millbrook (12-0) at Hoggard (12-0)

CLASS 7A

Thursday’s third round

East

Cardinal Gibbons 40, Hillside 19

Friday’s third round

West

Grimsley 55, Jack Britt 12

Independence 52, Richmond Senior 18

Reagan 32, Mooresville 31

Weddington 42, Lake Norman 7

East

Clayton 47, D.H. Conley 7

Garner 63, Cape Fear 26

Southeast Raleigh 49, Cleveland 37

Next Friday’s quarterfinals

West

Independence (10-2) at Weddington (11-1)

Reagan (10-2) at Grimsley (12-0)

East

Clayton (10-2) vs. Southeast Raleigh (9-3)

Garner (9-3) at Cardinal Gibbons (11-1)

CLASS 6A

Friday’s third round

West

Ashbrook 15, Dudley 7

Northern Guilford 37, Kings Mountain 7

Sun Valley 46, Freedom 20

Watauga 27, Charlotte Catholic 19

East

Jacksonville 35, Scotland County 34

Middle Creek 31, Southern Alamance 30

Northern Nash 19, Seventy-First 14

Union Pines 17, Williams 7

Next Friday’s quarterfinals

West

Northern Guilford (11-1) at Ashbrook (12-0)

Sun Valley (9-3) at Watauga (12-0)

East

Middle Creek (9-2) at Northern Nash (11-1)

Union Pines (11-1) at Jacksonville (11-0)

CLASS 5A

Friday’s third round

West

Crest 31, East Lincoln 14

Hickory 36, Franklin 14

Jay M. Robinson 41, Oak Grove 33

South Point 61, Monroe 42

East

Croatan 22, Havelock 21

Hunt 42, Southern Nash 21

Jacksonville Northside 28, St. Pauls 21

Rocky Mount 31, Northeast Guilford 12

Next Friday’s quarterfinals

West

Crest (10-2) at South Point (10-2)

Hickory (11-1) at Jay M. Robinson (11-1)

East

Croatan (11-1) at Hunt (10-2)

Rocky Mount (9-3) at Jacksonville Northside (10-2)

CLASS 4A

Friday’s third round

West

Brevard 30, Burns 27

Hibriten 14, Stuart Cramer 9

Maiden 29, Newton-Conover 6

Pisgah 22, Mount Pleasant 15

East

Central Davidson 40, North Pitt 22

Reidsville 41, Eastern Wayne 24

SouthWest Edgecombe 47, East Duplin 41

West Craven 30, T.W. Andrews 14

Next Friday’s quarterfinals

West

Pisgah (9-3) at Brevard (12-0)

Maiden (8-4) at Hibriten (11-1)

East

Central Davidson (11-1) at Reidsville (10-2)

SouthWest Edgecombe (8-5) at West Craven (11-1)

CLASS 3A

Friday’s third round

West

Eastern Randolph 30, Walkerstown 14

Lincolnton 37, Mountain Heritage 36

Shelby 41, Mount Airy 21

West Davidson 23, North Stanly 21

East

Farmville Central 28, Martin County 20

James kenan 54, Ayden-Grifton 26

Kinston 34, Pasquotank County 20

Northeastern 52, Pender County 34

Next Friday’s quarterfinals

West

Shelby (10-3) at Eastern Randolph (10-2)

West Davidson (10-3) at Lincolnton (10-2)

East

Farmville Central (8-5) at James Kenan (11-1)

Kinston (9-4) at Northeastern (9-3)

CLASS 2A

Friday’s third round

West

Corvian Community 31, East Wilkes 28

Mitchell County 28, Mountain Island Charter 15

Murphy 54, Community School of Davidson 20

Starmount 35, South Stanly 0

East

East Bladen 38, Manteo 21

Holmes 34, North Duplin 28

Tarboro 47, Hobbton 12

Warren County 44, East Carteret 23

Next Friday’s quarterfinals

West

Corvian Community (10-1) at Murphy (10-2)

Mitchell (9-4) at Starmount (10-2)

East

East Bladen (9-3) at Tarboro (12-0)

Holmes (8-4) at Warren County (10-2)

CLASS 1A

Friday’s quarterfinals

West

Robbinsville 54, East Columbus 17

South Davidson 27, Thomas Jefferson Academy 12

East

Pinetown Northside 43, Bear Grass Charter 6

Wilson Prep 42, KIPP Pride 16

Next Friday’s regional finals

West

South Davidson (11-1) at Robbinsville (9-3)

East

Wilson Prep (7-5) at Pinetown Northside (12-0)

NCISAA

DIVISION 1

Friday’s state championship

Providence Day 42, Charlotte Christian 6

DIVISION 2

Friday’s state championship

High Point Christian 50, Asheville School 13

8-MAN FOOTBALL

Friday’s state championship

Arendell Parrott Academy 30, Cary Christian 21

This story was originally published November 21, 2025 at 5:30 AM.