Providence Day wins The Observer’s Sweet 16 football title. View the final rankings
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- Providence Day wins Observer Sweet 16, captures fourth NCISAA title in five years.
- Chargers finish 13-0, beat Charlotte Christian 42-6 to secure poll championship.
- Observer poll maintained since 1984; rankings compiled by expert Chris Hughes.
The Observer’s Sweet 16 banner is going back to Sardis Road.
After winning its fourth NCISAA state championship in five years, Providence Day is the champion of The Observer’s Sweet 16 high school football poll.
The Chargers (13-0) began the season ranked No. 1 in the 41-year-old regional poll and were No. 1 at the end of the regular-season, the last time the poll was run.
Providence Day beat Charlotte Christian, 42-6, to win the championship last month.
The Chargers are ranked inside the top 25 in several national polls, higher than any team from the Carolinas. Providence Day has now three of the past four Observer Sweet 16 championships.
Before Providence Day’s run, only two NCISAA private schools had won the title: Charlotte Christian in 2018 and Charlotte Latin in 2007.
The rankings are compiled by longtime N.C. high school football expert Chris Hughes, a co-host of The Observer’s Talking Preps show.
The Observer has ranked the region’s best teams since 1984 and the annual winner receives a large banner to hang in its gymnasium.
Final 2025 Sweet 16 rankings
Rk, School, Rec, Prvs.
1. Providence Day (13-0), 1
2. Hough (14-0), 2
3. Weddington (12-2), 4
4. West Charlotte (10-3), 3
5. Independence (10-3), 6
6. Myers Park (9-3), 8
7. Mooresville (9-3), 5
8. J.M. Robinson (11-2), 13
9. Ashbrook (12-1), 7
10. East Lincoln (10-2), 9
11. Lake Norman (8-4), 10
12. Mallard Creek (7-4), 11
13. Providence (8-4), 15
14. South Point (10-2), 12
15. Sun Valley (10-2), NR
16. Corvian Community (10-2), 14
All-time Sweet 16 champions
2025: Providence Day
2024: Rock Hill Northwestern
2023 Providence Day
2022: Providence Day
2021: Shelby
2020-21: Vance
2019: Vance
2018: Charlotte Christian
2017: Rock Hill South Pointe
2016: Rock Hill South Pointe
2015: Charlotte Catholic
2014: Mallard Creek
2013: Mallard Creek
2012: Butler
2011: Rock Hill South Pointe
2010: Butler
2009: Butler
2008: Rock Hill South Pointe
2007: Charlotte Latin
2006: Independence
2005: Independence
2004: Independence
2003: Independence
2002: Independence
2001: Independence
2000: Independence
1999: Richmond Senior
1998: Richmond Senior
1997: Richmond Senior
1996: Hickory
1995: Spartanburg
1994: Boiling Springs Crest
1993: Rock Hill Northwestern
1992: Timmonsville
1991: Great Falls
1990: Camden
1989: Richmond Senior
1988: Richmond Senior
1987: Lewisville
1986: Lewisville
1985: Marshville Forest Hills
1984: Marshville Forest Hills
This story was originally published December 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
