Final North Carolina High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams - Dec. 15

The 2025 North Carolina high school football season is over as new and defending state champions have been crowned. As the offseason starts, here’s how Massey ranked the best teams from the Tarheel State.

The Massey Ratings system, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.

1. William Amos Hough Huskies

The Huskies completed a perfect 14-0 by blanking Millbrook, 21-0, to claim the North Carolina high school football Class 8A state championship. The William Amos Hough defense deserves credit in clinching the school’s first-ever state title after limiting the Wildcats offense to 98 total yards. Meanwhile, quarterback Ethan Royal completed one passing and two rushing touchdowns to secure the crown.

With the season over, the Huskies will say goodbye to college-bound standouts CB Samari Matthews (Texas), WR Tyran Evans (Miami), IOL Jarvis Potts (Appalachian State), LB LJ Porter (East Carolina), S Micah Bright (Wake Forest), and DL Chris Hilliard (Old Dominion).

2. Grimsley Whirlies

The Whirlies finished the season at 15-0 after defeating Clayton for their first-ever Class 7A state championship. From a 7-0 first-quarter deficit, Grimsley dominated the rest of the way to extend their winning streak to 31 games dating back to 2024. Five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon had a passing and a rushing touchdown, while Micah Williams finished with 101 rushing yards.

After securing another title for their alma mater, Brandon (Tennessee), CB Kosci Barnes (South Carolina), TE DJ Howerton (Rutgers), and IOL Nick Kashubara (Appalachian State) are moving on to college football.

3. Providence Day School Chargers

After the Chargers finished the 2025 North Carolina high school season with a perfect 13-0 record, they will move on without college-bound key players Gordon Sellars, Leo Delaney, and Zaid Lott, who will all join Clemson.

4. Weddington Warriors

For the second consecutive season, the Warriors’ season ended with a loss to Grimsley. As a consolation, Weddington secured its 11th double-digit winning season in the last 12 years (excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season). With their campaign over, Weddington will part ways with graduating seniors Aiden Harris (South Carolina), Andrew Harris (South Carolina), KD Cotton (Duke), and Thomas Davis Jr. (Notre Dame).

5. West Charlotte Lions

The Lions climbed to the top five despite ending their season with a loss to William Amos Hough in the North Carolina high school football Class 8A regional finals. After closing their campaign at 11-3, West Charlotte will say goodbye to LB Elijah Littlejohn (Georgia) and WR Donte Nicholson (Charlotte).

North Carolina high school football rankings: Nos. 6-25

6. Millbrook
7. Independence
8. Cardinal Gibbons
9. Crest
10. Clayton

11. Myers Park  
12. Hoggard
13. West Forsyth
14. Mooresville
15. Mallard Creek

16. Cleveland  
17. Watauga
18. Rolesville 
19. Southeast Raleigh
20. Reagan

21. Jordan
22. Garner 
23. Richmond Senior
24. Charlotte Christian
25. Hickory

How to Follow North Carolina High School Football

For North Carolina high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Tarheel State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across North Carolina.