Top high school teams play for postseason glory, state titles

JACOB RICE | UNSPLASH

Top-ranked Hough High leads Mecklenburg County's football programs into the first round of North Carolina's public schools playoffs on Friday.

The high school football postseason is here.

North Carolina’s public school playoffs kick off Friday and the Magnificent Seven starts their chase for state titles in the 3A and 4A ranks. Five open with home dates.

Hough, which closed the regular season as the top team in the Magnificent Seven and ridding a nine-game win streak, opens with a home game against South Iredell, while  No. 2 Charlotte Catholic, winner of six straight and the Southwestern 4A title, takes on Porter Ridge.

Third-ranked Independence, which finished behind the Cougars in the Southwestern race, goes to Mount Tabor.

Mallard Creek, which finished behind Hough in the Queen City 3A/4A standings, is ranked fourth, followed by West Charlotte. The Mavericks host Lake Norman while the Lions, the only 3A team in the Magnificent Seven, hosts Hunter Huss in the opening round.

While not ranked in the Magnificent Seven, Butler travels to East Forsyth.

This week’s rankings, with overall and conference record in parentheses:

1. Hough (9-1, 7-0 Queen City 3A/4A). Undoubtedly the best crew going in Mecklenburg. Outside of an opening-week loss, the Huskies have been the class of the county and should be a tough out in the 4A playoffs. They open against South Iredell.

2. Charlotte Catholic (7-2, 6-0 Southwest 4A). The Cougars have won six straight, including a win against Independence that effectively earned them the conference title. They play Porter Ridge in the first round.

3. Independence (9-1, 5-1 Southwest 4A). The loss to Catholic is what separates Independence from second in the rankings. Can the Patriots make another strong run in the postseason starting with a road test at Mount Tabor?

4. Mallard Creek (8-2, 6-1 Queen City 3A/4A). The Mavericks have won seven of eight and building momentum for the postseason. Lake Norman gets first crack at Mallard Creek’s place.

5. West Charlotte (7-2, 5-2 Queen City 3A/4A). The Lions have won five of six with the only loss a 13-12 setback to Mallard Creek. They take on Hunter Huss at home to open 3A postseason play.

6. Palisades (7-3, 5-1 SoMeck 4A). The Pumas lost to Ardrey Kell in the regular season finale, which put a damper on what had been a good run. They’re still in the hunt for some redemption, in addition to the program’s first postseason home game with Greensboro Page coming to town.

7. Olympic (8-2, 5-1 SoMeck 4A). The Trojans head into the postseason on a three-game binge. They hit the road for a trip to Northwest Guilford.

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