In the ever-evolving landscape of North Carolina high school football, Week 4 brings forth an intriguing mix of stability and dynamic change as the Carolina Gridiron rankings for all four classifications are revealed. This comprehensive report delves into the updated standings and highlights any notable surges or shifts since Week 3.

4A Classification: Grimsley Maintains Control, Two Groups of Mavericks in Top Spots

In the 4A classification, Grimsley continues to exert its dominance, securing the top spot with an impressive 3-0 record. While Grimsley maintained its position with authority, Mallard Creek, Weddington, and East Forsyth remain right on their heels. Cleveland makes their first appearance of the season and Marvin Ridge joins the Top 15 after an impressive last-minute win over Ardrey Kell.

The Week 4 rankings for the 4A classification are as follows:

1. Grimsley
2. Mallard Creek
3. Weddington
4. East Forsyth
5. Cardinal Gibbons
6. Hough
7. Butler
8. Charlotte Catholic
9. New Bern
10. Chambers
11. Rolesville
12. Mooresville
13. Marvin Ridge
14. West Forsyth
15. Cleveland

3A Classification: Crest Maintains Top Spot, West Charlotte Surges

Transitioning to the 3A classification, Crest continues to hold the pole position, showcasing their strength with a 3-0 record. Both the Chargers and county rival Kings Mountain fended off ranked 2A in-county opponents this past Friday. Meanwhile, West Charlotte made a significant move, advancing from the 10th spot in Week 3 to a formidable 7th place in Week 4 after a win over Charlotte rival Independence.

The Week 4 rankings for the 3A classification are as follows:

1. Crest
2. Kings Mountain
3. Dudley
4. Northern Nash
5. East Lincoln
6. Seventy-First
7. West Charlotte
8. Havelock
9. Eastern Guilford
10. Eastern Alamance
11. AC Reynolds
12. South Point
13. Scotland
14. Western Alamance
15. Northwest Cabarrus

2A Classification: Reidsville Leads, Clinton and Salisbury Impress

In the 2A classification, Reidsville maintains its stronghold at the top, demonstrating consistency with a 3-0 record. Clinton and Salisbury, however, have made significant strides, with Clinton securing the 2nd spot and Salisbury firmly planting itself in 3rd place after both teams had impressive wins this past week. The Princeton Bulldogs climbed into the rankings this week after an impressive 3-0 start to the season.

The Week 4 rankings for the 2A classification are as follows:

1. Reidsville
2. Clinton
3. Salisbury
4. Northeastern
5. East Duplin
6. Monroe
7. Forest Hills
8. Whiteville
9. Bunker Hill
10. Chase
11. Edenton Holmes
12. Nash Central
13. Burns
14. Princeton
15. Shelby

1A Classification: Mount Airy Leads, Starmount Shines

Lastly, in the 1A classification, Mount Airy maintains its top-tier status with an unblemished 3-0 record while most of the top five remain the same. Starmount is the standout mover this week, rising from 13th place in Week 3 to a top ten spot.

The Week 4 rankings for the 1A classification are as follows:

1. Mount Airy
2. Tarboro
3. Robbinsville
4. Swain
5. Mitchell
6. Eastern Randolph
7. Andrews
8. Draughn
9. Thomasville
10. Starmount
11. Hayesville
12. Murphy
13. North Rowan
14. Northampton
15. Polk

As the North Carolina high school football season unfolds, these rankings serve as a compass, guiding us through the intricate web of competition. The remarkable jumps by various teams illustrate the dynamic nature of the sport, where dedication and talent can yield substantial rewards. With each passing week, the anticipation of electrifying matchups and unforeseen developments on the gridiron continues to build, making the high school football season an exhilarating journey for players and fans alike. 

CHAPEL HILL – Battle Holley’s East Duplin Panthers have scraped by in a few contests this season, including two against county rival Wallace-Rose Hill, but no game was closer for Holly’s squad than Saturday’s title game against Reidsville, the state’s winningest team. Guided by Avery Gaby’s 184 rushing yards and a timely play by safety Elam Moore, the Panthers were able to hang on for a 24-21 victory and the 2A state championship.

East Duplin took the opening kickoff and drove sixty yards down the field, with Avery Gaby’s clutch fourth down run extending the drive when it looked like the Panthers would be stopped. Gaby punched it in two plays later to give East Duplin an early 7-0 lead. Reidsville looked to respond but was forced to put after a penalty took the Rams out of a favorable fourth down conversion attempt. The subsequent punt was downed at the one-yard line.

East Duplin was able to put together a twelve-play drive, but two false start penalties stalled the Panthers’ progress and they were forced to punt. Reidsville’s offensive woes continued, and the Rams punted again. Playing out the script from the previous drive, East Duplin was methodically driving down the field, getting in the red zone, and looking to take a two-score lead before Reidsville defensive back Que’shyne Flippen ripped the ball out of the East Duplin runner’s arms at the four-yard-line and Jaden McCain picked it up for Rams, returning it sixteen yards. The Rams saw a chance to finally grab some momentum before the half and took it with a fourteen-play, eighty-one-yard drive, getting on the scoreboard with no time remaining on an Al Lee pass to Dionte Neal.

Reidsville seemed poised to ride the momentum into a lead on their first drive of the second half, but an East Duplin defense held the Rams to a field goal attempt. In what would be the most bizarre play on the day, the field goal was blocked and the ball bounced back to the Reidsville holder who did not seem to know that the ball was live. An alert Elam Moore grabbed the ball out of the Reidsville player’s hands and raced seventy yards the other way for the Panthers score.

As Reidsville looked to get back in the game, a Rams pass was tipped and hauled in by Breckin Bowles. The Reidsville defense stepped up and held the Panthers to a twenty-six-yard Darwin Bonilla field goal, keeping the margin at ten points going into the final quarter. The Rams defense stepped up again early in the fourth quarter, stopping East Duplin on downs and setting up a forty-yard Lee to Dionte Neal touchdown pass to make it a three-point game.

It was now up to the East Duplin offense to try and put the game away. In the first half, it was the Panthers’ penalties keeping them out of scoring position and keeping Reidsville in the game. On this final East Duplin drive, it was Rams penalties bailing out the Panthers. East Duplin thought they were putting the game out of reach when Zack Brown’s first completed pass found Kade Kennedy to put the Panthers up ten points, but Reidsville’s Dionte Neal ran the ensuing kickoff back for the Rams touchdown. An illegal touch penalty on the onside kick gave the ball to East Duplin who was able to run out the clock and claim the school’s first football state title.

Mountain Heritage
did their best to keep the powerful Rams offense off the field, holding
possession on the opening drive for more than eight and a half minutes of the
first quarter. As they did for the entire game, despite giving up a few first
downs, the Rams defense managed to get stops in key situations. Kahree Hayes
led the Rams defense with 10 tackles and was selected as the Rams Most
Outstanding Defensive Player.

When the Rams
finally got their hands on the ball, they were able to strike quickly when
Pinnix broke more than half a dozen tackles on his way to a 61-yard touchdown
with just 19 seconds to go in the opening quarter putting Reidsville in front
7-0.

The next Reidsville
possession was equally successful with Pinnix finding Cam Peoples for a 69-yard
touchdown pass to go up 14-0. The Rams closed out the half with a strong nine-play, 46-yard drive capped off by a fourth and goal, one-yard touchdown run by
Stevion Harrison with just nine seconds remaining before the half.

Breon Pass brought
a nice return of the second-half opening kick to the Mountain Heritage 35,
setting Reidsville up with a short field. The Rams made quick work of the 35
yards, covering it in four plays with Pass hauling in a six-yard touchdown pass
from Pinnix to go up 28-0. Pass hauled in 5 receptions with 88 yards and two
touchdowns as he was selected the Rams Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

Reidsville was
highly efficient, scoring four touchdowns on their first four possessions of the
game on the way to building that 28-0 lead. Pinnix finished the game with 229
yards through the air and 3 touchdowns. He added another 91 yards on the ground
with the one score on his way to being named the Most Valuable Player in the
game.

Mountain Heritage
moved the ball some on the ground, rushing for 241 yards on 58 plays. Gabe
Silvers, Cougars quarterback, handled most of the rushing duties for Mountain
Heritage, carrying 29 times for 123 yards in the game. He was selected as the
Most Outstanding Player for the Cougars. Jakob McCool was the Most Outstanding
Player for the Cougar defense, finishing the game with six tackles and an
interception.

Reidsville wrapped
up the season 10-0. The Rams were 4-0 in Mid-State 2A play, winning the
championship. Reidsville secured the program’s fifth straight Regional Title
and third straight State Championship.

Mountain Heritage
finished the season 7-2. The Cougars were 2-1 in Western Highlands 1A/2A play.
They won the program’s second regional title and appeared in the State
Championship Game for the first time since 2009.

The NCHSAA is
committed to recognizing and promoting good sportsmanship and has partnered with
the NC Farm Bureau to highlight individuals from each State Championship event
who exemplify the ideals of outstanding sportsmanship. The 2020-2021 2A
Sportsmanship Award recipients were Orion Johnson from Reidsville and Josh Jobe
from Mountain Heritage.

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

0:19 – RHS – K.
Pinnix 61-yard run (A. Franson kick good) – RHS 7-0 (6 plays, 77 yards, 2:54)

Second Quarter

6:28 – RHS – C.
Peoples 69-yard pass from K. Pinnix (A. Franson kick good) – RHS 14-0 (1 play,
69 yards, 0:13)

0:09 – RHS – S.
Harrison 1-yard run (A. Franson kick good) – RHS 21-0 (9 plays, 46 yards, 4:06)

Third Quarter

10:52 – RHS – B.
Pass 6-yard pass from K. Pinnix (A. Franson kick good) – RHS 28-0 (4 plays, 35
yards, 1:08)

Fourth Quarter

4:59 – RHS – B.
Pass 53-yard pass from K. Pinnix (A. Franson kick good) – RHS 35-0 (5 plays, 87
yards, 2:12)

0:22 – MH – L.
Higgins 2-yard run (J. Branton rush failed) – RHS 35-6 (6 plays, 63 yards,
2:01)

Story courtesy of the NCHSAA