Prep football preview: Guess who’s No. 1 in Class 8A?
Here’s one that might surprise you.
Chambers is ranked ahead of Hough this week in the ranking system used to determine postseason playoffs in North Carolina.
Hough, off its impressive victories over defending state champions like Rock Hill’s Northwestern and Providence Day, is generally considered by fans and analysts to be the Charlotte area’s premier football team.
Not with the computers, though.
Both those teams will be in action this weekend.
Chambers visits Ardrey Kell on Friday night. Hough hosts Green Run, out of Virginia Beach, Va., on Saturday afternoon.
But let’s get back to those rankings.
The N.C. High School Athletic Association uses an RPI ranking system to determine playoff seeding. Teams earn points for victories, then for each time one of their opponents wins, and then for each time one of their opponents’ opponents wins.
NCHSAA officials stress that fans shouldn’t take too much from the rankings this early in the season. As teams move toward the end of their schedules, the numbers change.
In Class 8A this week, Chambers has a .89575 score. Hough, in second, has an .87972. Yes, that’s really close. And it will change, as the season progresses.
But even though we haven’t reached the halfway point of the season, it’s clear that some area teams could be in a battle to qualify for the playoffs.
Here’s a look at each of the classes:
CLASS 8A: Chambers (1), Hough (2) and Palisades (5) are among the leaders. If the season were to end today, South Mecklenburg and Garinger would be out of the playoff field.
CLASS 7A: As you might expect, defending state champion Grimsley is No. 1, with Cardinal Gibbons second. Weddington (3) and Marvin Ridge (7) are also in the top 10.
But a number of teams are near the cutoff, which in Classes 3A-7A is 48th place. South Iredell (46), West Cabarrus (47) and North Mecklenburg (48) are currently in the field. Cox Mill (49) and Ballantyne Ridge (50) are just outside the cutoff point.
CLASS 6A: Asheboro and Franklinton are 1-2. Kings Mountain (7) is also in the top 10. Near that 48th-place cutoff are Olympic (46), Statesville (48) and Harding (49).
CLASS 5A: South Point and Crest are 1-2 and should settle that issue when they meet in a Big South Conference game in a few weeks. Jay M. Robinson (9) and Forest Hills (10) also are in the top 10.
Just outside the 48-team field is Forestview (51).
CLASS 4A: East Duplin and Eastern Wayne rank 1-2. Lincoln Charter (51) is just outside the field.
CLASS 3A: North Stanly and Hendersonville lead the class, with Lincolnton (8) and Shelby (9) also near the top. Outside the field now is Bessemer City (50).
CLASS 2A: Alleghany and Starmount rank 1-2, with Christ the King (4) and Corvian Community (7) also in prime position. All 2A schools will be in the playoffs.
CLASS 1A: Pinetown Northside and Chatham Central lead the field.
Here is a look at some of this weekend’s top area games:
Chambers (4-0) at Ardrey Kell (3-1), 7 p.m. – The host Knights must find a way to slow down Chambers’ high-scoring offense, led by QB Jamouri Nichols (152 passing yards per game). Ardrey Kell freshman QB Noah Dailey is a star in the making, having thrown for 735 yards. But Chambers’ defense might be the toughest that the Knights have faced so far.
Mallard Creek (2-2) at Knoxville-TN McCallie School (3-1), 7:30 p.m. – Welcome to the theme of the week – Charlotte schools facing tough out-of-state competition. The Blue Tornado love to throw the football, as junior QB Louis Fortier has nearly 1,400 passing yards in four games. McCallie School has sent a number of players to the NFL.
Providence Day (3-1) at Rabun Gap-GA School (1-3), 7 p.m. – Most times in recent years, the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association’s Division 1 title has been won by one of these teams. Don’t let Rabun Gap’s record fool you – the Eagles have played a tough schedule.
This is a young Rabun Gap team, led by sophomore QB Grayson Clary. He is averaging more than 300 passing yards a game. If QB Cole Cater, injured two weeks ago, is not able to play, it’ll be a big test his Providence Day backup, Gavin Bronikowski. He played well last week against Butler, but Rabun Gap will be a step up in competition.
West Charlotte (3-1) at Carrollton-GA (4-0), 7:30 p.m. – A few weeks ago, West Charlotte traveled to Summerville and stunned the Charleston-area power. Now coach D.J. McFadden and his Mighty Lions have another big test. The host Trojans were among the nation’s top-ranked teams a year ago and have started strong again.
QB C.J. Cypher, a sophomore, has thrown for 1,400 yards and 20 touchdowns. And RB Zachary Watts, also a sophomore, is averaging 100 rushing yards a contest..
Ashbrook (2-2, 0-0 Big South 5A/6A) at South Point (4-0, 0-0), 7:30 p.m. – Ashbrook has a pair of losses to strong competition, so this should be a close game. The visiting Green Wave QB A.J. McClain has thrown for eight touchdowns, run for three more, and accounted for 1,200 yards of offense. South Point runs the ball about 95 percent of the time, and RB Kaveaun Pless is averaging 168.3 yards a game.
Lake Norman (4-0) at Pfafftown Reagan (4-0), 7 p.m. – Lake Norman QB Kaden Craft, a Tennessee commit, leads the Wildcats against a Reagan defense that averages one interception, three sacks and eight quarterback hurries a game. Offensively, the Raiders prefer to run the ball and will try to keep Lake Norman’s passing attack off the field..
Virginia Beach-VA Green Run (3-0) at Hough (4-0), 3 p.m. Saturday – It’s a rare Saturday matinee prep game for the Charlotte region.
Green Run rarely plays teams outside the Hampton Roads area and has won 64 straight games against local competition. The Stallions win with defense, and junior DE Quayvon Cleveland is ranked among the best prep players in Virginia. Hough had a slow start last week against Mooresville but otherwise has dominated all its competition.
All kickoffs at 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted
Weekend schedule
Thursday’s games
Big South 5A/6A
Hunter Huss 62, North Gaston 0
Nonconference
Mooresville 33, East Forsyth 29
Pine Lake Prep 37, North Iredell 6
SouthLake Christian 41, Blountville-TN Tri-Cities Christian 14
Friday
Greater Metro 6A/7A
A.L. Brown (3-0, 0-0) at Harding (1-2, 0-0)
Berry Academy (2-1, 0-0) at West Cabarrus (0-3, 0-0)
Hickory Ridge (2-1, 0-0) at Central Cabarrus (1-2, 0-0)
Olympic (1-2, 0-0) at Cox Mill (1-2, 0-0)
Southern Carolina 6A/7A
Charlotte Catholic (2-2, 0-0) at Weddington (4-0, 0-0)
Piedmont (2-2, 0-0) at Marvin Ridge (4-0, 0-0)
Porter Ridge (1-3, 0-0) at Cuthbertson (1-3, 0-0)
Big South 5A/6A
Ashbrook (2-2, 0-0) at South Point (4-0, 0-0), 7:30 pm
Forestview (0-4, 0-0) at Kings Mountain (3-1, 0-0), 7:30 pm
South Piedmont 4A/5A
Concord (1-2, 0-0) at West Rowan (2-1, 0-0)
Jay M. Robinson (3-0) at East Rowan (2-1, 0-0)
Salisbury (0-3, 0-0) at Jesse Carson (2-1, 0-0)
South Rowan (3-0, 0-0) at Northwest Cabarrus (2-1, 0-0)
Western Foothills 4A/5A
Bandys (1-2, 0-1) at Bunker Hill (3-1, 1-1), 7:30 pm
Hickory (3-1, 2-0) at Fred T. Foard (1-2, 0-1), 7:30 pm
Maiden (2-2, 1-1) at West Iredell (4-0, 2-0)
North Lincoln (1-3, 0-2) at East Lincoln (4-0, 2-0), 7:30 pm
Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A
Corvian Community (2-1, 0-0) at Lake Norman Charter (2-1, 0-0)
Lincoln Charter (0-3, 0-0) at Christ the King (3-0, 0-0)
Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A
Bessemer City (0-4, 0-2) at Burns (2-2, 2-0), 7:30 pm
Lincolnton (3-1, 1-1) at East Gaston (2-1, 0-1), 7:30 pm
Shelby (3-1, 2-0) at Cherryville (3-1, 1-1), 7:30 pm
Stuart Cramer (3-0, 1-0) at Highland Tech (0-4, 0-2), 7:30 pm
Yadkin Valley 1A/2A/3A
Albemarle (1-2, 0-0) at Thomas Jefferson Academy (1-2, 0-0)
Bonnie Cone Academy (0-3, 0-0) at South Stanly (0-3, 0-0)
North Stanly (3-0, 0-0) at Mountain Island Charter (3-0, 0-0)
Union Academy (2-1, 0-0) at North Rowan (2-1, 0-0)
Mecklenburg nonconference
Ambassador Christian (4-0) at Harrells Christian (2-1)
Asheville School (2-2) at Charlotte Country Day (2-1)
Ballantyne Ridge (1-3) at Winston-Salem R.J. Reynolds (3-1)
Butler (2-2) at Providence (1-3)
Chambers (4-0) at Ardrey Kell (3-1)
Charlotte Latin (2-2) at Christ School (4-0)
Hickory Grove Christian (3-0) at Buford-SC (1-3), 7:30 pm
Hopewell (3-1) at North Mecklenburg (2-2)
Lake Wylie-SC (2-1) at West Mecklenburg (0-4)
Mallard Creek (2-2) at Knoxville-TN McCallie School (3-1), 7:30 pm
Metrolina Christian (1-3) at Covenant Day (1-2)
Palisades (3-1) at Independence (1-3)
Providence Day (3-1) at Rabun Gap-GA School (1-3)
Rocky River (0-4) at Garinger (1-3)
South Mecklenburg (1-3) at East Mecklenburg (2-2)
West Charlotte (3-1) at Carrollton-GA (4-0), 7:30 pm
Area nonconference
Alexander Central (3-1) at South Iredell (1-3)
Davie County (2-2) at North Davidson (4-0)
Forest Hills (3-0) at Hoke County (2-1)
Lake Norman (4-0) at Pfafftown Reagan (4-0)
Mount Pleasant (3-1) at West Davidson (3-1)
Fayetteville Trinity Christian (3-1) at Parkwood (2-2)
West Stokes (2-1) at Statesville (1-3)
Saturday
Nonconference
Virginia Beach Green Run-VA (3-0) at Hough (4-0), 3 pm
TBA at Cabarrus Stallions (0-2), 6 pm
OFF: Anson County, Bradford Prep, Cannon School, Charlotte Christian, Community School of Davidson, Crest, Lincoln Charter, Monroe, Myers Park, Newton-Conover, sun Valley, West Lincoln, West Stanly
