NC high school football state finals: Who are the 2025 state champions?

Cleveland County stole the show on the final day of the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s state football championships.

Shelby helped set a championship record in the 3A title game Saturday afternoon in an 84-41 rout of Kinston. It was the 13th state championship in school history for the Golden Lions, who made their first title-game appearance in 1924.

Then, on Saturday evening, Crest won its seventh state championship, taking the 5A crown with a 31-14 victory over Hunt.

Also crowned champions Saturday were two other schools with rich championship histories — Reidsville in 4A and Tarboro in 2A.

Wilson Prep (1A) and Hough (8A) won titles Thursday at North Carolina’s Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill; Watauga (6A) and Grimsley (7A) captured championships Friday at Kenan Stadium.

Here is coverage from all eight games.

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Hamrick leads Crest over Hunt in 5A final

Ely Hamrick, whose father quarterbacked Crest’s first state championship team 31 years ago, threw for 233 yards and ran for a pair of touchdowns in the Chargers’ 31-14 romp over James Hunt, at Durham Memorial Stadium.

Hamrick, a Virginia commit, led an offense that generated 555 yards of total offense and brought Crest its first state championship since 2015.

The Chargers’ defense played a big role in the victory, shutting down the Hunt passing game. Warriors’ quarterback Mez Harris failed to complete a pass in six attempts. Harris, however, ran for a pair of touchdowns.

Harris’ first score came midway in the first quarter, from 2 yards out. It put the Wilson school ahead 7-0.

Crest evened the score late in the period on a 6-yard run by Michael Edwards. The Chargers (13-2) went ahead 14-7 early in the second quarter on a 35-yard run by Edwards.

There was a flurry of scoring late in the half. Hamrick ran 2 yards for a touchdown with 2:06 left, but Harris broke two tackles and dashed 80 yards for a score just 24 seconds later. Crest was able to take the kickoff and drive close enough for a Carson Grier 27-yard field goal on the final play of the half.

The only second-half score came on a 24-yard run by Hamrick early in the third quarter.

Hamrick, who completed 17 of 25 passes with one interception, played his sophomore season at IMG Academy in Florida, facing a schedule of national powers. He transfered to A.C. Reynolds in Asheville for his junior season, but he and his family moved to Cleveland County midway last season after Hurricane Helene closed schools in the Asheville area for several weeks.

Hamrick finished the 2024 season at Crest and played the entire 2025 campaign with the Chargers.

Jason Black led Crest’s ground attack with 119 yards on 19 carries. Edwards had 95 rushing yards, and Hamrick added 87. The Chargers totaled 322 yards on the ground.

Tarboro wears down Murphy to win 2A title

Tarboro won its second straight state championship and its ninth in 16 years Saturday at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory.

The Vikings ended Murphy’s nine-game win streak, winning 22-0. Tarboro (15-0) finished an unbeaten season and won the 2025 2A title, its 11th state championship in 17 appearances.

Murphy (12-3) was seeking to win its 10th state title, and first since 2021.

This was the first time the N.C. small-school powers had ever played.

Tarboro’s Kamerin McDowell-Moore’s 70-yard run early in the third quarter ended a big defensive struggle in the first half that ended with the teams tied at 0.

And the Vikings got some breathing room late in the third quarter after recovering a Murphy fumble at the Murphy 26.

Just as the fourth quarter began, McDowell-Moore ran in from 16 yards to give his team a 12-0 lead. With 3:55 to play, Tarboro defensive lineman Donovan Willis sacked the Murphy QB in the end zone for a safety and a 14-0 lead.

After Murphy failed on a pooch kick, designed to get the ball back, McDowell-Moore scored his third touchdown of the half, from 27 yards out.

Shelby outscores Kinston 84-41 in wild 3A final

Shelby High quarterback Lan Farmer needed 93 yards in Saturday’s 3A state championship game to reach 10,000 for his career.

He made it.

And then some.

Farmer and his Golden Lions teammates sent fans and officials looking through the record books in a wild 84-41 victory over Kinston at Durham County Stadium.

Farmer, a 6-4, 220-pounder, capped a sensational senior season by throwing for 459 yards and eight touchdowns as the Golden Lions (13-3) captured their 13^th state championship.

Kinston (11-5) kept pace with Shelby for nearly a half, but the Golden Lions’ onslaught was too much for the Vikings.

The latter stages of the game were played with a running clock after Shelby’s lead reached the 35-point threshold.

The teams’ 125 points broke a championship game record of 117, which had stood for 111 years. Raleigh and Asheville high schools set that mark in 1914, although Raleigh scored all the points and still holds the state championship game record for most points by one team.

To put it in context, the 125 points fell just one point short of the highest-scoring boys’ basketball championship total last March.

Shelby and Kinston combined for three touchdowns in the first four minutes.

There were three touchdowns in a 30-second span of the second quarter.

The Golden Lions finished with 644 total yards and 31 first downs.

Kinston quarterback Tyler Jones had a big day, too, completing 18 of 28 passes for 348 yards and four touchdowns. However, he was picked off three times, and some of those interceptions set up Shelby touchdowns.

Kinston led the game 7-0 after Genesis Wiggins scored on an 18-yard pass from Jones just 2:28 into the contest.

About a minute later, Shelby knotted the score on a Farmer-to-Lorenzo Roseboro pass of 36 yards. And the Golden Lions took the lead for good midway through the period on a 28-yard pass from Farmer to Calvin Ramseur.

Roseboro had four receptions in the game, all for touchdowns. Immanuel Collins caught seven passes for 123 yards. And Jonas Woods ran 20 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

Midway through the second quarter, Kinston’s Brennan Chambers returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown, and the Vikings were trailing 42-35.

But Shelby outscored Kinston 42-6 the rest of the way.

Golden Lions kicker Matt Greiner was among the game’s top scorers, converting 10 of 11.

Farmer, who has not announced a college commitment, finished his high school career with 10,466 yards.

He and the Golden Lions had a 4-3 record after a midseason overtime loss to Lincolnton.

But Shelby won its last nine games, including a shutout of Lincolnton last week in the 3A West regional finals.

Reidsville dominates Brevard in 4A final

Reidsville won its 23rd NCHSAA state championship in overwhelming fashion Saturday at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, dominating previously unbeaten Brevard.

En route to a 50-20 win, Reidsville led 43-7 at halftime and thoroughly outclassed Brevard (14-1), which was hoping for its second state title.

Reidsville QB Tyson Broadway completed 10 of 11 passes for 283 yards and four touchdowns. Dionte Neal and Kendre Harrison, the reigning N.C. Gatorade player of the year, each had more than 100 yards receiving.

Reidsville ran 30 plays for 421 total yards on offense. Reidsvile also had 114 yards on three kick returns.

Reidsville improved its all-time playoff record to 103-27-1 and improved to 23-7-1 in state finals.

The one tie came against Brevard in 1963.

On Saturday, Brevard was led by QB Christian Conley, who completed 19 of 26 passes for 215 yards and three scores. Receiver Tristan Thompson-Wynn caught 12 passes for 162 yards and two scores.

FRIDAY

Grimsley holds off Clayton to complete unbeaten season in 7A

Grimsley overcame a sluggish start Friday night and shut down Clayton 24-14 in the 7A football championship game at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill.

It was the second straight state title for the Whirlies (15-0), who ran their winning streak to 31 games.

The Whirlies recovered from a 7-0 first-quarter deficit, regained the lead 14-7 at halftime, then survived a second half that was loaded with penalties and mistakes by both teams.

The loss ended a big season for Coach Scott Chadwick’s Clayton team, which finished 12-3 and reached the state championship game for the first time since 1989.

The Comets are now 0-3 all-time in title games.

Clayton was the better team for one quarter Friday night.

The Comets took their 7-0 lead on a 13-yard run by quarterback Aiden Smalls with 6:30 left in the quarter. Grimsley then drove to the Clayton 17 but turned the ball over on downs.

Grimsley’s senior quarterback, Tennessee commit Faizon Brandon, wasn’t spectacular in his high school finale. The Whirlies had minus-6 yards offense after the first quarter.

But Brandon got the offense going in the second quarter, throwing one touchdown pass and running for another.

What might have been the game’s biggest play came two minutes into the second half.

With Clayton driving near midfield, Smalls rolled to his right and threw an off-balance pass that was picked off by Grimsley’s Makai Yon. He returned the interception 77 yards for a touchdown and a 21-7 Grimsley lead.

The only other score in the third quarter was a 22-yard field goal by Chase Huellmantel.

The rest of the period was a series of misplays. On back-to-back plays early in the third quarter, Smalls fumbled the ball away, then Brandon threw an interception.

On the series of plays preceding Huellmantel’s field goal, there were 10 penalties to just nine plays.

Clayton narrowed the gap to 24-14 just 23 seconds into the fourth quarter when Smalls broke loose on a 61-yard touchdown run.

That run was part of an outstanding night by Smalls, who rushed for 167 yards.

The Comets never quit. They drove deep into Grimsley territory in the game’s final minutes but ran out of time. With five seconds left, Smalls was stopped on a run at the Grimsley 2.

Burroughs’ 5 TDs lead Watauga past Middle Creek in 6A

Evan Burroughs put on a memorable state championship game performance Friday night.

Burroughs, a jack of all trades for Watauga High School of Boone, scored five touchdowns as the Pioneers ran past Middle Creek of Apex, 47-25, for the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s 6A championship.

In a game full of big plays, Burroughs stood out. He’s headed to Duke, but on a baseball scholarship. Burroughs is a switch-hitting middle infielder and outfielder who has spent spring baseball seasons with the Watauga team and the summers with the Dirtbags, a Raleigh-based travel team.

On Friday night, he was a superb football player.

Burroughs scored three times on runs, once on a pass, and once on an interception return. His performance helped the Pioneers (15-0) cap a perfect season and win their first state title since 1978. He finished with 14 receptions for 149 yards.

Quarterback Cade Keller, who completed his first 13 passes, finished 22 of 26 for 277 yards.

They capped a big night in which Watauga ended a 47-year state championship drought. Head coach Ryan Habich told reporters after the game that he instructed his team to take a knee on the conversion attempt after their final touchdown.

That, he said, would give the Pioneers 47 points — for the 47 years since they last were champs.

Middle Creek, making its first state final appearance, finished 11-3.

Burroughs began making his mark early in the game.

After Middle Creek drove for a touchdown on its opening possession and led 7-0, Watauga scored on its second offensive play — a 68-yard pass from Keller to Burroughs. The conversion kick failed, but Watauga didn’t trail for long.

On Middle Creek’s next possession, Burroughs picked off a Mustang pass near midfield and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown.

Middle Creek steadied itself, driving for a 26-yard Ben Ladue field goal with 2:17 left in the first quarter, cutting Watauga’s lead to 12-10.

But the Pioneers struck again before the quarter ended, on a 1-yard run by Matthew Leon. That was set up by a 52-yard pass from Keller to Nyle Peays.

Up 19-10, Watauga tried to pad its lead by converting an onside kick, but one of the Pioneers’ few mistakes ended that possession — Middle Creek picked off a trick halfback pass.

The Mustangs were forced to punt, however, and Watauga started driving again. The drive ended on Burroughs’ 3-yard TD run with 9:38 left in the half.

The Pioneers made it 33-10 with 3:31 left in the second quarter on a 23-yard run by Burroughs, and to close out the half, Burroughs picked off a Middle Creek pass shortly before intermission.

Burroughs’ fifth touchdown came midway in the third quarter on a 7-yard run. At that point, Watauga was up 41-10 and in position to trigger the running clock, which is used when a team builds a lead of 35 points or more.

That’s when things got interesting. The Mustangs cut the deficit to 41-17 on Ezra Jobe’s 10-yard run late in the third quarter, then got within 41-25 when Lex Sevilla and Nicolas Bocciardi connected on a 10-yard pass with 10:26 remaining.

Watauga fumbled the ball away on its next possession, too, with Middle Creek’s Cullen Hunt recovering at the Watauga 25. The Mustangs drove inside the Pioneers’ 10, but on fourth down, Watauga’s Leon broke up a Middle Creek pass to end the threat.

Watauga added a late touchdown on a 51-yard pass from Keller to Peays.

Thursday’s recaps

Wilson Prep tops Robbinsville on late kick in 1A

Wilson Prep hasn’t kicked, or punted, much all season, but Ethan Nelson made a 27-yard field goal with 25 seconds left to lift the Tigers to a 9-8 win over Robbinsville for the school’s first state title.

Wilson Prep (9-5) got in position to win after Robbinsville tried a fake punt, and failed, near midfield with under five minutes to play.

Wilson Prep got the ball at its 49. QB Travon Usher’s scramble, on fourth-and-7, got his team a first down at the Robbinsville 14 with 3:17 to play.

Usher later got another scramble to the Robbinsville 3. Robbinsville’s defense stood up, but Nelson ran out and made his field first goal of the season.

It’s one that Wilson Prep fans will remember for a long time.

Early on, it looked like Robbinsville might be ready to win, after it drove into Wilson Prep territory three times in the game’s first 12 minutes, but had nothing to show for it.

The most impactful play of the first quarter came on the longest play from scrimmage in the period. Robbinsville’s Kyzik Teesateskie broke free and dashed 51 yards to the Wilson Prep 30 midway in the quarter.

But Teesateskie, the Black Knights’ leading rusher this season, was injured on the play and did not return during the first half. Robbinsville’s drive stalled, but the Black Knights got the ball back early in the second quarter and moved to the Wilson Prep 28.

That drive also stalled. On its next possession, Robbinsville marched from its 48 to the Wilson Prep 9. However, the Tigers’ Travon Usher knocked the ball out of running back Isiac Collins’ arm, and Wilson Prep’s Zalik Cannady recovered. Wilson Prep’s offense then got in gear, thanks to a 72-yard run by Ethan Nelson. On fourth down at the 12, Usher fired a touchdown pass to Nazir Vines.

The two-point conversion attempt failed, and Wilson Prep led 6-0 with 2:50 left in the half. Robbinsville, which rarely throws the ball, moved downfield quickly, thanks to a 41-yard pass. Collins then scored from the 1 with 1:13 left in the half, and Collins ran in the conversion for an 8-6 lead.

Hough defense locks down Millbrook in 8A

The Huskies got their second straight shutout, beating Millbrook 21-0 after beating West Charlotte 24-0 in the regional championship game two weeks ago.

Championship MVP Ethan Royal, the junior QB from Hough, threw for a touchdown and ran for two on a night when Hough’s defense didn’t give up much.

Millbrook, averaging nearly 40 yards per game, barely averaged 2 yards per play.

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This story was originally published December 11, 2025 at 5:30 AM.