It’s time for kickoff! The 2021 Charlotte and Raleigh high school football preview
Charlotte-area county previews
Mecklenburg County private schools
Mecklenburg County public schools
Triangle-Area County Previews
Features/Stories
Who are the top 25 recruits in NC? Our annual rankings are here
Garinger High will play varsity football after all
CMS to require some fans, coaches, players to wear masks in 2021-22 school year
One CMS school won’t kick off the season Friday. Here’s why
Chris Hughes’ love letter to the game and his top 25 games to watch Friday
Rivalry games to kick off season Thursday
Rankings
New name, same goal. Chambers starts No. 1 in Observer’s Sweet 16 poll
Rolesville starts No. 1 in Wake County Sweet 16
The preseason All Charlotte Observer high school football team
Chris Hughes ranks every NCHSAA team in North Carolina
Mr. Football Top 25 preseason watchlist
Schedules
Charlotte-area: team by team (season)
Triangle-area: team by team (season)
New Conference Names
This year, many schools will play in new conferences in the Charlotte and Triangle-areas. Find out below where your team is playing
OBSERVER AREA
QUEEN CITY 3A-4A
Hopewell, Hough, Julius Chambers, Mallard Creek, North Mecklenburg
West Charlotte (3A), West Mecklenburg (3A)
SOUTH MECK 4A
Ardrey Kell, Berry Academy, Harding, Myers Park, Olympic, South Mecklenburg
SOUTHWESTERN 4A
Butler, Charlotte Catholic, East Mecklenburg, Garinger, Independence, Providence, Rocky River.
GREATER METRO 4A
A.L. Brown, Cox Mill, Hickory Ridge, Lake Norman, Mooresville, South Iredell, West Cabarrus
SOUTHERN CAROLINA 4A
Cuthbertson, Marvin Ridge, Piedmont, Porter Ridge, Sun Valley, Weddington.
NORTHWESTERN 3A-4A
Alexander Central (4A), South Caldwell (4A), Watauga (4A)
Ashe County (3A), Freedom (3A), Hibriten (3A)
SANDHILLS 3A-4A
Richmond Senior (4A)
(also ... Hoke County, Pinecrest in 4A; Lee County, Scotland County, Southern Lee, Union Pines in 3A)
BIG SOUTH 3A
Ashbrook, Crest, Forestview, Hunter Huss, Kings Mountain, North Gaston, South Point, Stuart Cramer
SOUTH PIEDMONT 3A
Central Cabarrus, Concord, East Rowan, Jesse Carson, Lake Norman Charter, Northwest Cabarrus, South Rowan, West Rowan
WESTERN PIEDMONT 3A
East Lincoln, Fred T. Foard, Hickory, North Iredell, North Lincoln, St. Stephens, Statesville, West Iredell
ROCKY RIVER 2A-3A
Central Academy (3A), Parkwood (3A)
Anson County (2A), Forest Hills (2A), Monroe (2A), West Stanly (2A)
MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS 2A
Chase, East Rutherford, Patton, R-S Central
(also ... Brevard, Hendersonville, Polk County)
CATAWBA VALLEY 2A
Bandys, Bunker Hill, East Burke, Lincolnton, Maiden, Newton-Conover, West Caldwell, West Lincoln
CENTRAL CAROLINA 1A-2A
Salisbury (2A)
North Rowan (1A)
(also ... East Davidson, Lexington, West Davidson in 2A; South Davidson, Thomasville in 1A)
YADKIN VALLEY 1A-2A
Jay M. Robinson (2A), Mount Pleasant (2A), North Stanly (2A)
Albemarle (1A), Gray Stone Day (1A), South Stanly (1A), Union Academy (1A)
CATAWBA SHORES 1A-2A
Community School of Davidson (2A), Lincoln Charter (2A), Pine Lake Prep (2A)
Christ the King (1A), Langtree Charter (1A), Mountain Island Charter (1A)
SOUTH PIEDMONT 1A-2A
Burns (2A), East Gaston (2A), Shelby (2A)
Bessemer City (1A), Cherryville (1A), Highland Tech (1A), Thomas Jefferson Academy (1A)
WESTERN HIGHLANDS 1A-2A
Avery County (1A), Draughn (1A)
also ... Madison, C.D. Owen in 2A; Mitchell County, Mountain Heritage, Rosman in 1A
METRO 8 1A
Apprentice Academy, Bradford Prep, Cabarrus Charter, Carolina International, Corvian Community, Piedmont Community, Queens Grant, Sugar Creek
FOOTBALL-ONLY CONFERENCE IN 1A-2A (still waiting for word on this name)
Community School of Davidson, Pine Lake Prep in 2A
Christ the King, Mountain Island Charter in 1A
(also ... Bishop McGuinness, Carver, Winston-Salem Prep in 1A)
TRIANGLE AREA
GREATER NEUSE RIVER 4A
Corinth Holders, Clayton, Cleveland, fuquay-Varina, Garner, South Garner, Southeast Raleigh, Willow Spring
NORTHERN ATHLETIC 4A
Heritage, Knightdale, Millbrook, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wakefield
CAP 6 4A
Athens Drive, Broughton, Cardinal Gibbons, Enloe, Leesville Road, Sanderson
SOUTHWEST WAKE 4A
Apex, Apex Friendship, Cary, Green Hope, Green Level, Holly Springs, Middle Creek, Panther Creek
DAC 7 4A
Jordan, Chapel Hill, East Chapel Hill, Hillside, Northern Durham, Riverside
(also ... Southern Alamance)
QUAD COUNTY 3A
East Wake, Smithfield-Selma, South Johnston, West Johnston
(also ... C.B. Aycock, Fike, Hunt, Southern Wayne)
CENTRAL CAROLINA 3A
Cedar Ridge, Orange
(also ... Eastern Alamance, Northwood, Person, Western Alamance, Williams)
NORTHERN LAKES 2A-3A
Carrboro (3A), Durham School of Arts (3A), Southern Durham (3A)
(also ... Vance County in 3A; Granville Central, South Granville, Oxford Webb in 2A)
NEUSE 6 2A
North Johnston, Princeton
(also ... Beddingfield, Eastern Wayne, Goldsboro, Spring Creek)
SUPER SIX 1A-2A
Franklin Academy (2A), N.C. School of Science and Math (2A), Raleigh Charter (2A), Research Triangle (2A)
East Wake Academy (1A), Falls Lake Academy (1A)
CAROLINA 1A
Neuse Charter
(also ... Hobbton, Lakewood, North Duplin, Rosewood, Union)
TRIANGLE NORTH 1A
Eno River Academy, Voyager Academy
(also ... Henderson Collegiate, Oxford Prep, Roxboro Community, Vance Charter)
CENTRAL TAR HEEL 1A
Southern Wake Academy, Triangle Math and Science Academy, Woods Charter
(also ... Chatham Charter, Clover Garden charter, River Mill Academy)
This story was originally published August 19, 2021 at 8:02 AM with the headline "It’s time for kickoff! The 2021 Charlotte and Raleigh high school football preview."
