Top 25 North Carolina High School Football Rankings (9/21/2023)

Here is this week's Power 25 ahead of Week 6 games

Conference play is heating up around the state as we head into Week 6 of the high school football season in North Carolina.

Providence Day and Grimsley are still unbeaten and continue their stranglehold on the top two places in our poll, spots they have occupied since the beginning of the season.

1. Providence Day (4-0)

Previous rank: 1. Last game: Defeated Cannon School 49-7

The Chargers are showing no signs of mercy through their first four games of the season, scoring at least 42 points in all four wins behind their loaded offense. Could be even more potent coming off their bye week.

Next game: at Christ School, Sept. 22 

2. Grimsley (4-0)

Previous rank: 2. Last game: Defeated Southeast Guilford 56-0

Terrell Anderson, an N.C. State commit, and Alex Taylor, a UNC commit, have combined for 507 receiving yards and seven touchdowns for the Whirlies, and running back Mitchell Summers has scored 12 touchdowns. The defense is allowing just 14 points per game after last week's shutout.

Next game: at Northwest Guilford, Sept. 22

3. Butler (4-1)

Previous rank: 3. Last game: Defeated Garinger 70-0

After their season-opening loss at Rolesville, the Bulldogs have found their mojo with four straight wins, including wins over nationally-ranked Langston Hughes (Georgia) and No. 5 Weddington. A balanced offensive attack paired with a defense that has improved every week make Butler even more formidable.

Next game: Vs. Providence, Sept. 22

4. East Forsyth (4-0)

Previous rank: 3. Last game: Defeated Reagan 29-22

The Eagles opened Central Piedmont 4-A Conference play with a come-from-behind win over Reagan, which is also expected to be one of the top contenders for the conference title.

Junior quarterback and UNC commit Bryce Baker continues to show his development in his first year at East. Baker has completed 70 percent of his passes while throwing for 1.015 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Next game: At Davie County Sept. 22

5. Weddington (4-1)

Previous rank: 5. Last game: Defeated Chapel Hill 66-13

The Warriors brushed off their loss against Butler and rolled to a win against Chapel Hill last week. The offense is averaging more than 42 points per game.

Next game: at Dutch Fork (South Carolina) Sept. 22

6. Crest (4-0)

Previous rank: 6. Last game: Defeated Ashbrook 68-20

The Chargers offense has scored 44, 49, 53 and 68 points in their four wins behind quarterback Ny'Tavious Huskey and a trio of talented receivers in Malachi Addison, Javarius Green and A.J. Adams.

Next game: Sept. 22 vs. Stuart Cramer

7. Dudley (4-0)

Previous rank: 7. Last game: Defeated High Point Central 63-6

The Panthers keep rolling right along into Metro 4-A Conference play with a convincing win last week. The high-powered offense has scored 214 points in their four wins, and maybe even more impressive is the defense, which has surrendered just 21 points.

Next game: Sept. 22 at Atkins

8. Rolesville (4-1)

Previous rank: 14. Last game: Defeated Athens Drive 43-7

Running back Devon Thomas continues to shine for the Rams offense with 924 yards and 13 touchdowns. Quarterback Braden Atkinson has thrown for 822 yards and 13 touchdowns, including three in last week's win over Athens Drive when he completed 12 of 13 passes.

Next game: Sept. 29 at Wakefield

9. Cleveland (4-0)

Previous rank: 8. Last game: Defeated Corinth Holders 51-0

The Rams are coming off two straight shutout wins with an offense being led by junior quarterback Jackson Byrd (1065 passing yards, nine touchdowns) and receiver Tyson Stokes (four touchdowns).

Next game: At South Garner Sept. 22

10. West Charlotte (4-0)

Previous rank: 20. Last game: Defeated Mallard Creek 17-15

The Lions continue their resurgence following their gutty win against Mallard Creek last week, which followed impressive wins against Independence and Monroe. Coach Sam Greiner has his team looking like one of the favorites for the 3-A state title.

Next game: Vs. West Mecklenburg Sept. 22

11. Clinton (4-0)

Previous rank: 10. Last game: Defeated Whiteville 47-14

The Dark Horses had little trouble in their last win, which wound up looking a lot like their first three wins this season.

Josiah McLaurin and Josiah Robinson have been supplying most of the offensive punch and have combined to score 17 touchdowns through four games.

Next game: vs. Princeton, Sept. 22

12. Mount Airy (5-0)

Previous rank: 11. Last game: Defeated North Stokes 64-0

Lots to be said about the Bears potent offense, but the reigning 1-A state champions' defense is the story as it has allowed just seven points all season. This week's game should test it a little more.

Next game: vs. Starmount, Sept. 22

13. Seventy-First (4-0)

Previous rank: 12. Last game: Defeated South View 47-14

The Falcons delivered a statement win against previously unbeaten South View in their last outing behind five touchdowns from dual-threat quarterback DeAndre Nance, who has rushed for 500 yards and nine touchdowns and thrown for 458 and six scores.

The defense has surrendered just 34 points all season.

Next game: At Gray's Creek Sept. 21

14. Salisbury (5-0)

Previous rank: 13. Last game: Defeated Thomasville 12-6

The Hornets gutted out their win last week with their lowest-scoring output of the season. The defense continues to show its grit as well, with no teams scoring more than seven points in a game and allowing just 25 points in its five wins.

Next game: At West Davidson, Sept. 22

15. New Bern (5-0)

Previous rank: Not ranked. Last game: Defeated Havelock 15-14

The reigning 4-A state champs had plenty of questions marks entering the 2023 season, including a new coach. Well, the Bears have finally made believers out of us after their 20th straight win last week against Havelock. The vaunted run game is led by a freshman, Karvin Magwood, who has 311 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

Next game: at Jacksonville, Sept. 21

16. Hough (3-1)

Previous rank: 19. Last game: Defeated North Mecklenburg 52-7

The Huskies' offense erupted for their highest point total of the season in last week's win at North Meck. Also notable was the kicker Nolan Hauser set the new national high school record by booting his 57th career field goal in the win.

Next game: Vs. Chambers Sept. 22

17. Kings Mountain (4-0)

Previous rank: 17. Last game: Defeated Huss 41-0

The Mountaineers keep rolling behind their stingy defense and Curtis Simpson, who posted 15 tackles and three sacks in last week's shutout win.

Next game: Vs. North Gaston Sept. 22

18. Chambers (3-1)

Previous rank: Not ranked. Last game: Defeated West Mecklenburg 56-0

The Cougars make their return to the poll following their shutout win last week. Braylon Vinson has been one of the early standouts, rushing for 468 yards and four touchdowns.

Next game: at Hough, Sept. 22

19. Tarboro (4-0)

Previous rank: 18. Last game: Defeated Southwest Edgecombe 35-20.

The Vikings' three-pronged rushing attack has combined to score 18 touchdowns in their four wins, with Kamerin McDowell Moore (nine rushing touchdowns) and Mason Satterfield (six rushing touchdowns) leading the charge.

Next game: Vs. Bertie Sept. 29

20. Pinecrest (4-0)

Previous rank: 21. Last game: Defeated New Hanover 35-3

The Patriots continue their stellar play to start the season behind explosive running back Zymire Spencer, who has rushed for 509 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Next game: at Richmond Senior, Sept. 22

21. Eastern Alamance (4-0)

Previous rank: 24. Last game: Defeated Reidsville 19-14

The dynamic running back duo of Tyrek Samuel and Joshua Murray, who both ran for more than 1,000 yards last season, are on pace to do so again this season.

Next game: vs. Western Alamance, Sept. 22

22. Hickory (4-0)

Previous: Not ranked. Last game: Defeated East Lincoln 49-28

Running back Isaiah Lackey (456 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns) has sparked an offense that also features quarterback Brady Stober (802 passing yards, 12 touchdowns) and four receivers who have at least 136 receiving yards.

Next game: at North Lincoln Sept. 22

23. Charlotte Catholic (4-1)

Previous: 23. Last game: Defeated Providence 29-22

The Cougars needed some late heroics from Notre Dame-bound tight end Jack Larsen to slip past Providence in their last win.

Next game: vs. Independence Sept. 22

24. Reidsville (4-1)

Previous: 25. Last game: Defeated North Forsyth 28-7

Kendre Harrison (410 receiving yards, four touchdowns) and Cam'Ron Jones (451 receiving yards, four touchdowns) continue to be the top targets for Al Lee (1,075 passing yards, 14 touchdowns). Watch out for the Rams in the 2-A ranks when they get fully healthy.

Next game: Vs. McMichael

25. West Forsyth (3-1)

Previous. Not ranked. Last game: Defeated Mount Tabor 40-14

The Titans crack the Power 25 for the first time after last week's statement win over Mount Tabor to open Central Piedmont 4-A Conference play. Caman Chaplin ran for 173 yards and three touchdowns behind the Titans' massive offensive line. The defense, behind Caleb David and Davion Eldridge, has also been getting it done.

Next game: At Parkland, Sept. 22