West Charlotte High leads preseason Magnificent Seven

WEST CHARLOTTE HIGH SCHOOL

West Charlotte High returns coach Sam Greiner and most of the core roster from the team that won the North Carolina 3A football title in 2024.

The first Magnificent Seven high school football ranking opens the way 2024 ended.

West Charlotte, the only public-school program in Mecklenburg County to win a state title last year, is No. 1. The Lions, who earned the 3A crown, have an experienced core and one of the state’s best coaches in Sam Greiner to ease their transition to a new conference, the Meck Power Six 7A/8A. Second is Hough, which beat West Charlotte last year when both competed in the old Queen City 3A/4A, are poised to challenge the Lions in the new 8A ranks.

Another former Queen City 3A/4A team, Mallard Creek, is third. The Mavericks will square off against West Charlotte in the Meck Power Six in a regular season test of strength. Independence, which is also in the MPS, is fourth, followed by Charlotte Catholic, which moves to a new conference as a 6A competitor.

Palisades, which advanced to the playoffs for the first time in the school’s fourth year, is sixth, followed by Butler, giving the MPS four teams in the Magnificent Seven. The ranking is for Mecklenburg programs that play in public school conferences.

Teams are ranked in order with 2024 record and playoff result:

1. West Charlotte (13-2, NC 3A title). The Lions are moving up to the new 8A ranks but have the roster and depth to do damage when tournament time rolls around. If there’s an area of concern, it’s special teams where the Lions aren’t nearly as stout when it comes to kicking.

2. Hough (12-2, fourth round of 4A playoffs). The Huskies created a stellar sandwich of 12 straight wins after a season-opening loss to Rock Hill Northwestern, which won South Carolina’s 4A title. Hough dragged everyone in the old Queen City 3A/4A, but failing to make the North Carolina final was a letdown. Can coach DeShawn Baker get Hough over the hump in 8A? 

3. Mallard Creek (10-3, third round of 4A playoffs). The Mavericks have a challenging nonconference schedule on the front end and rugged conference slate in the back. The good news is a successful start gives everyone an idea of what to expect from coach Kennedy Tinsley’s squad.

4. Independence (10-2, second round of 4A playoffs). The Patriots are winning with regularity – at least in the regular season – which is a tribute to coach D.J. McFadden’s skill. The playoffs, however, is still a challenge, as indicated by last year’s 47-3 loss to Hough. Residing in the Meck Power Six 7A/8A with West Charlotte and Mallard Creek will bring out the best in, or expose, the Patriots.

5. Charlotte Catholic (9-3, third round of 4A playoffs). The Cougars are moving up to 6A as a member of the Southern Carolina 6A/7A, where they should be a threat to advance at least to the West final. A nonconference tussle with independent power Providence Day as well as a 2024 4A playoff rematch against conference rival Porter Ridge (now in 7A) and state powerhouse Weddington (also 7A) highlight the schedule.

6. Palisades (8-4, second round of 4A playoffs). Jonathan Simmons coached the Pumas to their first postseason berth and have a good core of returning players back for 2025. That experience bodes well in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, where Palisades is the only squad with a plus-.500 record from 2024.

7. Butler (4-7, missed the playoffs). Brian Hales is back after a year’s retirement and his job is to return the Bulldogs to a more competitive state. We’ll find out quickly with Irmo (S.C.) and Providence Day on the nonconference schedule before jumping into the Meck Power Six fray. 

Comments