Deana's Picks: Predictions for State Champions

The high school football season is about to kick off in North Carolina this week and everyone is excited about the first game. Everybody is 0-0 now and all the coaches, players, and fans are optimistic that their team will be the last one standing in December.

Rivals/On3’s’ National high school writer Andy Villamarzo put out his predictions on who he thought would win titles in the Tar Heel State and his predictions stirred up several fanbases around the state. I decided to reveal my picks who I feel will be raising the trophy in about four months in the cold month of December.

1A – ROBBINSVILLE

I’m picking Robbinsville to take the 1A title because of their tradition. The Black Knights will be under a new coach this year, but Lucas Ford has been one of the top assistants for Dee Walsh, who retired. Anyone who knows anything about high school football in North Carolina knows that 1A football has been basically owned by the Smoky Mountain Conference. They just play the game different up there and they are tough and physical. It’s hard to go against a program that is third all-time in football state titles.

2A – TARBORO

Tarboro has been so strong in the past 25 years in winning eight state championships (5 in 1A and 3 in 2A). They have been so dominant in the eastern part of the state that they have been to the state championship game every year since 2017. Coach Jeff Craddock has another team built on several returners from last year’s state championship team.

3A – SHELBY

A theme has emerged in the first three picks and will continue for the next two classes as well. That theme is tradition and championships. Shelby High School has been the gold standard for high school football in North Carolina. That program has won state championships in the past seven decades and no program is even close to that. Coach Mike Wilbanks has a talented group of players that are very eager to win another title for their huge trophy case.

4A – REIDSVILLE

See the first statement above….as those two programs not only have battled each other on the gridiron during state playoffs and even state championship games, but their fanbases get in arguments on message boards and social media about who is the best. Coach Erik Teague has a tremendous group of seniors back for their final year. The Rams have won the most state titles in state history and they seem to be the favorite again to add to that total.

5A – CREST

Cleveland County football is different when you have four high schools that eat, sleep, and drink high school football. Crest’s pedigree is one of the state’s best with their numerous championships. Bragging rights between Charger fans with Shelby, Burns, and Kings Mountain keep message boards on fire during the season. Coach Greg Lloyd, a Crest alum, has a loaded team with some extremely talented players that could possibly bring him his favorite state title as a head coach.

6A – SEVENTY-FIRST

The Falcons have been so close the past two seasons losing in the 3A state championship games to Hickory (33-26) and West Charlotte (14-7). I feel that the 2025 season that Coach Duran McLaurin and his Seventy-First Falcons get that title. He has a good nucleus returning this season to get that job done.

7A – GRIMSLEY

Coach Darryl Brown has built Grimsley into a state power in North Carolina and could consider them a regional and nation power as the Whirlies continue to win championships. The talent level that has walked the halls in the Greensboro (NC) high school has been so eye-opening. The program continues to send high-profiled kids to the best programs in college football. With a star-studded roster, the Whirlies will look to repeat.

8A – WEST CHARLOTTE

West Charlotte is coming off a 2024 3A title win over Seventy-First. Several starters from the Lions’ team will be back. Coach Sam Greiner is one of the best high school football coaches in this state as he has built program and won big will doing it. They compete in the biggest division (8A) and certainly the Lions will be tested each and every Friday night in the Queen City and beyond.

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