NC high school football season comes to an end. Final scores, highlights

Friday was the final night of high school football statewide. The playoffs start next week, and pairings will be released Sunday.

Scroll down for Friday’s scores statewide, Charlotte-area game coverage and watch our Talking Preps statewide postgame show.

Quick links

Mooresville rallies past Lake Norman in thriller

Talking Preps: The THURSDAY night NC postgame show

Thursday’s NC statewide scores

Providence tops Ardrey Kell for first league title in four years

The Talking Preps Friday night postgame show

How the Sweet 16 fared

Rk., School, Rec, Thursday/Friday

1. Providence Day (10-0): d. Charlotte Country Day 49-0 Thursday

2. Hough (10-0): d. Hopewell 56-0 Thursday

3. West Charlotte (8-2): d. North Meck 43-0 Thursday

4. Weddington (9-1): idle

5. Mooresville (8-2): d. Lake Norman 23-21

6. Independence (8-2): d. Butler 40-7 Thursday

7. Ashbrook (10-0): d. Hunter Huss 16-0

8. Myers Park (7-2): d. South Meck 40-14 Thursday

9. East Lincoln (9-1): idle

10. Lake Norman (7-3): lost 23-21 to Mooresville

11. Mallard Creek (7-3): d. Chambers 31-0 Thursday

12. South Point (7-2): d. Ambassador Christian 48-18

13. JM Robinson (9-1): d. Northwest Cabarrus 56-6

14. Corvian Community (8-1): idle

15. Providence (7-3): d. Ardrey Kell 28-14 Thursday

16. Palisades (7-3): d. East Meck 42-6 Thursday

Looking for CMS results? Those schools played Thursday

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools ended regular-season high school football play Thursday.

There weren’t many surprises. Full coverage here.

1) Sweet 16 No. 1 Providence Day ran past Charlotte Country Day 56-0 to win the Big South 4A title outright.

2) No. 2 Hough beat Hopewell 56-0 to lock up the Greater Charlotte title outright.

3) No. 6 Independence beat rival Butler for the fourth time in five years, winning 41-7 in Matthews. The Patriots (8-2) have now won four in a row heading into the 7A playoffs. They are unbeaten against 7A competition.

4) Ballantyne Ridge ended a four-game losing streak, beating Rocky River 20-13. It was the second win in school history and the second win this season for the Wolves (2-8). Ballantyne Ridge finished 0-11 in the school’s first season in 2024.

5) West Mecklenburg beat Garinger, 24-7, to earn its first win of the season. The Hawks (1-9) last won on Nov. 1, 2024, when they beat Harding 53-0. Garinger finished 1-9, but ended an 48-game losing streak in coach Jupiter Wilson’s first season. The Wildcats also scored 106 points for the season. A year ago, Garinger scored 22.

6) In the feature game of the night, Providence beat rival Ardrey Kell to win the Southwestern 7A/8A conference title. Tap here for full coverage.

7) Olympic finished an unbeaten conference run with a 16-13 win at Hickory Ridge. Coach Brandon Thompson won his 50th game.

What’s next? The playoffs

After Friday’s games, it’s time for the postseason.

The NCHSAA and NCISAA will release playoff schedules Sunday for the playoffs that begin Nov. 7.

NCHSAA schools will play Nov. 7, Nov. 14, Nov. 21, Nov. 28 and Dec. 5 before hosting state finals Dec. 11-13 at UNC, Lenoir-Rhyne and Durham County Stadium.

The 1A and 8A classes, which have fewer teams, will have a bye on Dec. 5 before state finals week. Given that schedule, it would make the most sense for those finals to run Thursday, Dec. 11.

The NCISAA playoffs are Nov. 7 and Nov. 14 with state finals Nov. 21 at the higher seed. There are two divisions. D1 schools have enrollment of 375 or more; D2 is 374 or fewer.

Sun Valley edges Porter Ridge

It figures that a defensive play was the key in a football game with 18 total points.

And so it was Friday night, as Sun Valley held off host Porter Ridge 11-7 in a Southern Carolinas 6A/7A defensive struggle.

The Pirates (6-4, 3-3) moved the ball from their 20 to the Sun Valley 12 in the final two minutes. The big play was a 38-yard run by quarterback Keenan Sullivan from his 45 to the Spartan 17.

But on fourth-and-eight at the Porter Ridge 15, with 1:06 left, Sullivan was rushed by Sun Valley’s Jayden Lanzillotti and forced to heave a pass that went incomplete.

Sun Valley (7-3, 5-1) took a 3-0 lead with a field goal on the final play of the first half.

Porter Ridge went in front 7-3 with 51 seconds left in the third quarter, on a 15-yard pass from Sullivan to Raishawn Elmore. The Pirates intercepted a pass at their 1 midway in the fourth quarter, but Sun Valley tackled a Porter Ridge ball-carrier in the end zone for a safety, making it 7-5.

The Spartans then drove for their winning score, which came on a 28-yard pass from Noah Lineberry to a wide-open Josiah Rivera-Laney. That came with 4:21 remaining. The Spartans missed a two-point conversion and held an 11-7 lead.

SWEET 16 TEAMS

No. 7 Ashbrook 16, Hunter Huss 0 – The Green Wave (10-0, 6-0 Big South 5A/6A) capped a perfect regular season by blanking its Gastonia city rival. Ashbrook led 9-0 at halftime, but Hunter Huss drove to the Green Wave 17 with nine minutes left in the game. The Huskies missed a field goal, though.

Ashbrook then drove for a clinching touchdown, scoring on a 3-yard run by Martino Smith with six seconds left.

Huss finished 5-5, 2-4.

No. 12 South Point 48, Ambassador Christian 18 – The Raiders’ Jesse Ledford ran for two touchdowns, and Patrick Blee ran for a score and passed to Walker Spareo for another touchdown.

Ambassador Christian (5-4-1), finishing its first season of varsity football, took a 6-0 lead just two minutes into the game on a Weston Michelak touchdown pass. But the Raiders (8-2) scored 41 straight points and pulled away. One of their touchdowns came on Cayden Rumph’s 25-yard interception return.

Michelak passed for two touchdowns in the second half.

No. 13 Jay M. Robinson 56, Northwest Cabarrus 6 – The Bulldogs turned this South Piedmont 4A/5A showdown into a rout, as L.J. Watson ran for three touchdowns. Aury Greenfield ran for a score and passed to Antonio Howie for another.

Landyn McElroy and Ennis Stiles also scored on runs for Jay M. Robinson (9-1, 7-0), and Kemauri Pinkston returned an interception 34 yards for a score. Ryse Szabo connected on all eight extra-point attempts.

Northwest Cabarrus finished 7-3, 5-2. Jay M. Robinson lost its season-opener to Myers Park but has won nine in a row.

MECKLENBURG TEAMS

Charlotte Catholic 49, Piedmont 0 – The Cougars’ lethargic offense exploded in the regular-season finale, thanks to a powerful ground attack that netted more than 300 yards. A 49-yard pass from Chase Kummer to Max Whalen set up one of the scores for Charlotte Catholic (6-4, 3-3 Southern Carolina 6A/7A).

Garrett Nowlan also scored on a 74-yard run, and Aidan Flynn was seven-for-seven on conversion kicks. Piedmont fell to 2-8, 0-6.

Charlotte Christian 38, Charlotte Latin 24 – Elliot Newcomb threw three touchdown passes, and the visiting Knights (5-5, 2-1) downed the Hawks (7-3, 0-3) in a Big South game.

The Knights went up 24-10 in the third quarter on Newcomb’s 6-yard pass to Ryder Kilgannon, but Latin closed to 24-17 on Troy Logan’s 19-yard toss to Banks Cutter.

Newcomb then connected with Vince Rosen for a 65-yard score with nine minutes left. But the Hawks answered with De’Jon Douglas’ 12-yard touchdown run. That cut the Knights’ lead to 31-24 with seven minutes left.

Charlotte Christian’s final score came on a short run by Jamal Rule with 55 seconds to play.

Christ the King 48, Langtree Charter 6 – The host Crusaders (7-3, 4-2 Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A) intercepted two passes and recovered two fumbles in this romp. Langtree Charter dropped to 1-9, 0-6, in its first year of varsity football.

High Point Christian 65, Covenant Day 0 – The host Cougars capped a perfect regular season (10-0, 4-0) with this lopsided victory over the Lions (2-8, 1-3).

Lake Norman Charter 35, Lincoln Charter 7 – Dylan Wignot threw four touchdown passes, as the Knights (5-5, 3-3) won this Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A game at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory. Wignot connected with Haze Dodson, Eli Washington, Tristan English and Dorian Morgan.

Morgan also scored on a 48-yard run. Lincoln Charter finished the regular season 3-7, 1-5.

Thomas Jefferson Academy 48, Bonnie Cone Leadership 12: The host Gryphons (4-6, 2-5) rolled to a Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A victory.

Down 8-0 early in the game, Bonnie Cone drove to the Thomas Jefferson 5 but lost the ball on a fumble.

The Eagles (0-10, 0-7) scored in the second half on Kendrick Williams’ 80-yard interception return in the third quarter, and on Jayce Newton’s 51-yard pass to Jahque Byrd in the fourth quarter.

OTHER AREA GAMES

Anson County 22, Parkwood 20 – Trailing 22-0 in the third quarter, the Wolf Pack (2-8, 1-4 Rocky River 4A/5A) battled back and scored a touchdown with 1:30 left to get within two points. But the Bearcats (2-8, 2-3) recovered an onside kick attempt.

Cannon School 35, Christ School 0 – Sophomore quarterback Lucas Lopez threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score, as the Cougars (6-4, 2-1) trounced the host Greenies (3-7, 0-2) in a Western Piedmont game.

Lopez threw a pair of scoring passes to Marcus Sales, including a 70-yarder in the first quarter. He also connected with Isaiah Townsend and Spencer Williamson. Lopez ran 35 yards for his score.

Davie County 15, South Iredell 6 – Leading 8-6 midway in the fourth quarter, Davie County (6-4, 3-2 North Piedmont 6A/7A) drove for a touchdown and held on. South Iredell fell to 3-7, 1-4.

Lincolnton 42, West Lincoln 6 – Rashad Lynch threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score, as the Wolves made easy work of this Lincoln County rivalry. Lynch connected twice with his brother, R.J. Lynch, and twice with Messiah Thompson.

Rashad Lynch also ran 37 yards for a score.

West Lincoln (5-5, 4-4 Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A) held Lincolnton (8-2, 7-1) scoreless in the first quarter.

Marvin Ridge 31, Cuthbertson 28 – Marvin Ridge intercepted a Cuthbertson pass with 44 seconds remaining, to seal this Southern Carolinas 6A/7A victory. The Mavericks (5-5, 3-3) trailed 21-17 at halftime but took the lead for good on Levi Kerr’s 44-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. They scored again midway in the third period for a 31-21 lead.

But Cuthbertson (3-7, 1-5) scored on a Mason Iovino run with six minutes left, cutting the deficit to 31-28.

Mount Pleasant 25, West Stanly 14 – The visiting Tigers (7-3, 4-1 Rocky River 4A/5A) rallied from a 14-13 deficit with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Aydon Smith got Mount Pleasant’s first touchdown on an interception return. West Stanly fell to 1-9, 0-5.

North Stanly 55, Union Academy 17 – The visiting Cardinals (4-6, 2-5 Catawba-Yadkin 1A/2A/3A) kicked a field goal and trailed only 7-3 midway in the first quarter. But the Comets (8-2, 6-1) scored 28 straight points and were never challenged afterward.

Stuart Cramer 30, East Gaston 7 – The visiting Storm (8-2, 6-2 Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A) were held scoreless by East Gaston (2-8, 2-6) in the first quarter but scored twice on runs in the second quarter and added two touchdowns and a field goal in the third quarter.

Looking for Thursday’s NC statewide scores

Tap here for results and coverage

FRIDAY’S CHARLOTTE-AREA SCHEDULE

North Piedmont 6A/7A

Davie County 15, South Iredell 6

Mooresville 23, Lake Norman 21

Southern Carolina 6A/7A

Charlotte Catholic 49, Piedmont 0

Marvin Ridge 31, Cuthbertson 28

Sun Valley 11, Porter Ridge 7

Big South (NCISAA)

Charlotte Christian 38, Charlotte Latin 24

Big South 5A/6A

Ashbrook 16, Hunter Huss 0

Crest 70, Kings Mountain 0

North Gaston 40, Forestview 0

Big Six (NCISAA)

High Point Christian 65, Covenant Day 0

Western Piedmont (NCISAA)

Cannon School 35, Christ School 0

Rocky River 4A/5A

Anson County 22, Parkwood 20

Mount Pleasant 25, West Stanly 14

South Piedmont 4A/5A

Concord 28, East Rowan 13

Jay M. Robinson 56, Northwest Cabarrus 6

Jesse Carson 35, South Rowan 0

West Rowan 49, Salisbury 7

Western Foothills 4A/5A

Fred T. Foard 27, North Lincoln 7

Hickory 47, Bandys 45 OT

Newton-Conover 19, Maiden 13

West Iredell 70, Bunker Hill 24

Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A

Christ The King 48, Langtree Charter 6

Lake Norman Charter 35, Lincoln Charter 7

Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A

Cherryville 50, Bessemer City 33

Lincolnton 42, West Lincoln 6

Shelby 36, Burns 35

Stuart Cramer 30, East Gaston 7

Yadkin Valley 1A/2A/3A

North Stanly 55, Union Academy 17

South Stanly 50, Albemarle 13

Thomas Jefferson 48, Bonnie Cone 12

Nonconference

Metrolina Christian (2-7) at Hickory Grove Christian (6-2)

South Point 48, Ambassador Christian 18

SouthLake Christian 41, South Wake 6

OPEN WEEK: Cabarrus Stallions, Corvian Community, East Lincoln, Highland Tech, Weddington

FRIDAY’S RALEIGH-AREA SCHEDULE

Cap 8A

Leesville Road 14, Broughton 7

Millbrook 25, Corinth Holders 6

Rolesville 44, Enloe 7

Wakefield 17, Athens Drive 7

Greater Neuse 7A

Clayton 20, Cleveland 3

Garner 34, Fuquay-Varina 21

Southeast Raleigh 44, South Garner 18

Tobacco Road 6A/7A

Hillside 51, East Chapel Hill 0

Northern Six 6A/7A

Franklinton 44, Vance County 13

Wake Forest 24, Heritage 3

Carolina Pines 6A

Harnett Central at Triton

Lee County 27, Southern Lee 18

South Johnston 35, West Johnston 15

Union Pines 62, Western Harnett 0

Big Seven 4A/5A

Orange 50, Cedar Ridge 0

Three Rivers 4A

North Pitt 39, Washington 0

West Craven 47, Eastern Wayne 24

Quad County 2A/3A/4A

Nash Central 54, American Leadership/Johnston 31

Wake Prep 26, Louisburg 0

Swine Valley 2A/3A

James Kenan 28, Wallace-Rose Hill 21

Princeton 50, Rosewood 42

Big East (NCISAA)

Trinity Christian 29, Harrells Christian 14

Other games

Cary Christian 54, St. David’s 19

GRACE Christian 46, Asheville Christian 16

North Wake Saints 36, Wayne Prep 0

Pungo Christian 34, Wake Christian 30

SouthLake Christian 41, South Wake 6

FRIDAY’S NC STATEWIDE SCORES

Alexander Central 42, South Caldwell 26

Alleghany 68, Elkin 0

Arendell Parrott 26, John Paul Catholic II 23

Asheboro 37, Southern Guilford 0

Asheville 20, Enka 17

Bartlett Yancey 34, Carver 30

Bear Grass Charter 26, Hobgood Charter 20

Bishop McGuinness 35, South Davidson 16

Brevard 36, Pisgah 30

Cape Fear 12, Scotland 7

Central Davidson 27, Montgomery Central 7

Chase 56, Patton 0

Clinton 21, Southwest Onslow 3

Croatan 46, Dixon 42

Cummings 63, Graham 0

DH Conley 42, JH Rose 28

East Burke 56, Draughn 8

East Carteret 35, Pamlico Co. 0

East Duplin 48, South Lenoir 0

East Rutherford 38, R-S Central 14

East Wilkes 53, Wilkes Central 0

Erwin 42, North Buncombe 6

Faith Christian 2, Halifax Academy 0 (forfeit)

Franklin 34, West Henderson 14

Freedom 41, McDowell 0

Gates Co. 34, Camden Co. 6

Grimsley 45, Ben L. Smith 8

Havelock 19, Northside-Jacksonville 7

Hayesville 55, Andrews 14

Hendersonville 37, Polk County 21

Hibriten 60, West Caldwell 12

Hoggard 38, Ashley 8

Hunt 43, Fike 34

Jack Britt 30, Hoke County 10

James Kenan 28, Wallace-Rose Hill 21

Lakewood 36, East Columbus 0

Laney 43, North Brunswick 40

Lexington 29, Ledford 17

Mitchell 63, Avery County 14

Mountain Heritage 14, Owen 0

Mount Airy 54, East Surry 13

Mount Tabor 26, Glenn 0

Murphy 27, Swain County 0

New Hanover 35, Topsail 14

North Duplin 20, Hobbton 14

North Henderson 21, Smoky Mountain 6

North Pitt 39, Washington 0

North Forsyth 37, Atkins 0

North Stokes 14, South Stokes 12

North Surry 48, Forbush 13

Northeast Guilford 21, Eastern Guilford 13

Northern Guilford 35, Southeast Guilford 0

Northern Nash 31, Rocky Mount 18

Northwest Guilford 13, RJ Reynolds 6

Oak Grove 46, North Davidson 9

Page 56, Western Guilford 0

Pasquotank 21, Northeastern 14

Pender 42, Heide Trask 0

Pine Forest 35, Overhills 0

Providence Grove 31, Thomasville 9

Purnell Swett 24, Lumberton 21

Reagan 28, East Forsyth 14

Red Springs 28, Fairmont 6

Reidsville 69, McMichael 12

Richlands 14, Swansboro 10

Richmond Senior 58, Pinecrest 27

Robbinsville 54, Cherokee 7

Seventy-First 46, South View 22

South Brunswick 35, West Bladen 7

South Columbus 22, Whiteville 15

Southeast Alamance 24, Eastern Alamance 13

Southeast Collegiate Prep 60, Weldon 0

Southern Alamance 27, Western Alamance 7

Starmount 56, Ashe County 0

St. Paul’s 48, Byrd 0

Tarboro 42, Kinston 35

TC Roberson 21, AC Reynolds 14

Terry Sanford 51, Gray’s Creek 36

Tuscola 46, East Henderson 0

Walkertown 34, Morehead 0

Warren County 49, Northwest Halifax 13

Watauga 28, St. Stephens 18

West Columbus 36, Union 6

West Craven 47, Eastern Wayne 24

West Davidson 49, East Davidson 10

West Forsyth 53, Parkland 0

West Stokes 42, Surry Central 9

West Wilkes 24, North Wilkes 20

Westover 49, E.E. Smith 0

Wheatmore 34, Trinity 7

Williams 35, Person 12

This story was originally published October 31, 2025 at 5:30 PM with the headline "NC high school football season comes to an end. Final scores, highlights."