My Top 5 3A WEST

kyleheel30

All-Conference
Sep 4, 2019
2,057
3,358
113
East Rutherford is going to score a lot of points. The question is, can they stop the better teams they play? Their defense was their big issue last season.

I think Mountain Heritage is still going to be very good and will pound and grind most teams to a pulp. They might be better overall than last season at almost every position except QB, but he was very good. And of course they have a new coach but he will run the same system.
 

MHHS"12

Senior
Jun 5, 2023
610
687
56
East Rutherford is going to score a lot of points. The question is, can they stop the better teams they play? Their defense was their big issue last season.

I think Mountain Heritage is still going to be very good and will pound and grind most teams to a pulp. They might be better overall than last season at almost every position except QB, but he was very good. And of course they have a new coach but he will run the same system.
As excited as I am to watch Heritage this year it might be Shelby four times then everyone else.
 
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bengal4life

Sophomore
Oct 27, 2024
165
182
43
East Rutherford is going to score a lot of points. The question is, can they stop the better teams they play? Their defense was their big issue last season.

I think Mountain Heritage is still going to be very good and will pound and grind most teams to a pulp. They might be better overall than last season at almost every position except QB, but he was very good. And of course they have a new coach but he will run the same system.
Hate disagree with you , heritage line play not close to last season. That’s problem area for them
East Rutherford is going to score a lot of points. The question is, can they stop the better teams they play? Their defense was their big issue last season.

I think Mountain Heritage is still going to be very good and will pound and grind most teams to a pulp. They might be better overall than last season at almost every position except QB, but he was very good. And of course they have a new coach but he will run the same system.
Honestly got disagree, went to the scrimmage line play is going be weak area this season. It may take the coaching staff half season get the right combination. Still think they have chance win conference, Mitchell and Hendersonville will be tough
 
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Loveboat

Senior
Jun 11, 2014
823
876
43
From what we saw last year in the playoffs, Kinston does not have a control of his players and to make a SC run that will not work, look for them to shoot themselves in the foot if the coaching staff has not fixed that.
 
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MHHS"12

Senior
Jun 5, 2023
610
687
56
Hate disagree with you , heritage line play not close to last season. That’s problem area for them

Honestly got disagree, went to the scrimmage line play is going be weak area this season. It may take the coaching staff half season get the right combination. Still think they have chance win conference, Mitchell and Hendersonville will be tough
I didn't come away with the impression that the line was weak we were down one of our best linemen after all, I thought we looked pretty good all the way around aside from penalties, all and all a good practice, I just don’t see many if any 3a teams competing with Shelby this year they’ve got speed everywhere and a qb that can sling it.
 

bengal4life

Sophomore
Oct 27, 2024
165
182
43
I didn't come away with the impression that the line was weak we were down one of our best linemen after all, I thought we looked pretty good all the way around aside from penalties, all and all a good practice, I just don’t see many if any 3a teams competing with Shelby this year they’ve got speed everywhere and a qb that can sling it.
Look who we played lol
 
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UNC91

All-Conference
Dec 12, 2019
2,170
1,858
113
From what we saw last year in the playoffs, Kinston does not have a control of his players and to make a SC run that will not work, look for them to shoot themselves in the foot if the coaching staff has not fixed that.

Tried to tell these guys Kinston is very badly coached. The new moderator said he is best friends with the coach and definitely has them under control lol. I've seen many times last year, zero control on the field.
 

MHHS"12

Senior
Jun 5, 2023
610
687
56
East Rutherford is going to score a lot of points. The question is, can they stop the better teams they play? Their defense was their big issue last season.

I think Mountain Heritage is still going to be very good and will pound and grind most teams to a pulp. They might be better overall than last season at almost every position except QB, but he was very good. And of course they have a new coach but he will run the same system.
You might’ve been right all along lol
 

whitleyre

Junior
Jul 18, 2025
127
243
43
I wish “we” had more information on some teams before we change the top 5 west list.
Shelby lost , yes but to Kings Mountain.
Mountain Heritage won, but what kind of opponent?
I know a fair amount about Starmount and what Mt Airy’s win means. But “we” also saw the huge deficiencies Mt Airy’s offense has right now.

Not sure how I would suggest ranking the west 3A teams at this time. My guess is Shelby should still be #1.
 

kyleheel30

All-Conference
Sep 4, 2019
2,057
3,358
113
I wish “we” had more information on some teams before we change the top 5 west list.
Shelby lost , yes but to Kings Mountain.
Mountain Heritage won, but what kind of opponent?
I know a fair amount about Starmount and what Mt Airy’s win means. But “we” also saw the huge deficiencies Mt Airy’s offense has right now.

Not sure how I would suggest ranking the west 3A teams at this time. My guess is Shelby should still be #1.
Pisgah may not be world beaters, but they are solid and Mountain Heritage deserves to be in the top 5 after week 1.
 
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MHHS"12

Senior
Jun 5, 2023
610
687
56
I wish “we” had more information on some teams before we change the top 5 west list.
Shelby lost , yes but to Kings Mountain.
Mountain Heritage won, but what kind of opponent?
I know a fair amount about Starmount and what Mt Airy’s win means. But “we” also saw the huge deficiencies Mt Airy’s offense has right now.

Not sure how I would suggest ranking the west 3A teams at this time. My guess is Shelby should still be #1.
Pisgahs no starmount that’s for true lol. I guess we will find out later they do play in a much tougher conference…
 
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Owen Stampede

All-Conference
Jul 20, 2006
4,402
1,466
62
In this day and time with all the transferring etc a team can change a lot from season to season. Cant strictly lean on history or prior year anymore. It’s magnified in the Greensboro Charlotte and Asheville type areas
 
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whitleyre

Junior
Jul 18, 2025
127
243
43
Still not sure what the rankings should be, but I think Mountain Heritage, Eastern Randloph and Lincolnton should move up and Shelby and Mt Airy move down or out of top 5.

Shelby is 0-2 but more importantly has not played well according to my reading of Cleveland County posters.

Mt Airy is 2-0 but my goodness I am not sure how. They have played two really good 2A powerhouses but, at this point in the season, in my opinion, they are nowhere near ready to play the likes of Kings Mountain or Crest and be completive.
 

MA STUD

Junior
Aug 4, 2023
464
375
63
Still not sure what the rankings should be, but I think Mountain Heritage, Eastern Randloph and Lincolnton should move up and Shelby and Mt Airy move down or out of top 5.

Shelby is 0-2 but more importantly has not played well according to my reading of Cleveland County posters.

Mt Airy is 2-0 but my goodness I am not sure how. They have played two really good 2A powerhouses but, at this point in the season, in my opinion, they are nowhere near ready to play the likes of Kings Mountain or Crest and be completive.
KM and Crest are 5A correct?
 

Shelby Lion

Heisman
Oct 3, 2002
13,605
10,276
113
Still not sure what the rankings should be, but I think Mountain Heritage, Eastern Randloph and Lincolnton should move up and Shelby and Mt Airy move down or out of top 5.

Shelby is 0-2 but more importantly has not played well according to my reading of Cleveland County posters.

Mt Airy is 2-0 but my goodness I am not sure how. They have played two really good 2A powerhouses but, at this point in the season, in my opinion, they are nowhere near ready to play the likes of Kings Mountain or Crest and be completive.
Make no mistake my man

Shelby has been our own worst enemy the first two games.... We could have won either.... and thats against the top ranked 5a team and a highly ranked 6a team...

We will clean that up and there aint a 3a team out there thats going to want to face us in the post season....barring any injuries we will make a DEEP run once again....
 

MA STUD

Junior
Aug 4, 2023
464
375
63
MA season may be over with #4 going out in 1st qrt. other night with knee injury. He is 1 of top RB in the state. Also #1 shoulder injury
Watauga game could be ugly. Hope it's just a sprain.
 

whitleyre

Junior
Jul 18, 2025
127
243
43
Make no mistake my man

Shelby has been our own worst enemy the first two games.... We could have won either.... and thats against the top ranked 5a team and a highly ranked 6a team...

We will clean that up and there aint a 3a team out there thats going to want to face us in the post season....barring any injuries we will make a DEEP run once again....
I have no doubt Shelby will clean up their act, but as to "aint a 3a team out there thats going to want to face us" let me suggest to you that you might want to read up on the likes of Eastern Randloph, Mountain Heritage, Lincolnton, and, yes, Mount Airy if #4 (#1 Tailback in NC) is full strength.

Mt Airy despite attempting to shot itself in the foot in its first two games and a young coaching staff that is working hard to find "its system", is still 2-0 on the season. Next our agenda is 6A Watauga, 7A (if in NC) Va's Jefferson Forest, and then 6A St Stephens. Mt Airy also is not afraid to play way above its weight.

We will look forward to welcoming Shelby to the friendly confines of Wallace Wade Stadium should we both be fortunate enough to get that far.