Top 25 North Carolina high school football rankings (11/11/2024)

Undefeated Weddington continues to remain as the top ranked team in North Carolina with Grimsley coming in right behind them in our latest set of rankings before the NCHSAA playoffs begin

Aiden Harris, a 4-star defensive lineman, celebrates as Weddington turned back Butler, 24-19, Friday night in North Carolina. / Game of Inches/Weddington Football

North Carolina high school football is in full swing and so are our power rankings.

The No. 1 team in the Tar Heel State remains undefeated Weddington followed by the Grimsley, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee and then Providence Day.

Here’s the complete breakdown of North Carolina's elite high school football teams, heading into Week 12 of the 2024 season, as we see it.

2024 SBLive Football Top 25 North Carolina high school football rankings

1. Weddington (9-0)

Hoggard's #0 Kamar Fulton makes a tackle as Hoggard took on Weddington High School in the 4A Football Championship at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh Saturday Dec. 9, 2023. Weddington beat Hoggard 56 -21 to win the State Championship. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS / KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Warriors had another dominant performance last week to improve to 9-0 on the season when they rolled to a 45-13 win over Marvin Ridge.

2. Grimsley (10-0)

There’s not many running backs in the Tar Heel State playing better than Mitchell Summers right now. The tailback has rushed for 1,091 yards and has scored an eye popping 27 touchdowns.

3. Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (10-2)

AC Reynolds sophomore running back Max Guest runs the ball against Rabun Gap-Nacoochee Friday night at AC Reynolds High School in Asheville, NC. Rabun Gap-Nacoochee defeated AC Reynolds 37-28. A Reynolds football Rabun Gap Max Guest / Josh Bell / USA TODAY NETWORK

There's honestly an argument to be had that this Rabun Gap-Nacoochee club could be the best team right now in North Carolina. The Eagles only two losses have come to Hun (New Jersey) and top-ranked Baylor out of Tennessee.

4. Providence Day (8-2)

Providence Day's only two losses this season have come up against top ranked Weddington and Rabun Gap-Nacoochee. Not bad losses if you ask us.

5. Cleveland (10-0)

Not many signal callers can boast the kind of stat line Jackson Byrd has through nine games. The senior has completed 178-of-290 passes for 2,856 yards and 33 touchdowns.

6. Rolesville (9-1)

Oct 21, 2011; Wake Forest, NC, USA; Wake Forest-Rolesville Cougars running back Casty St. Louis (28) carries the ball against the Millbrook Wildcats. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-Imagn Images / Mark Dolejs-Imagn Images

The Rams looked impressive in last week’s 51-12 thrashing of Heritage in the regular season finale.

7. Hough (9-1)

Ralph Trey Blakeney has been a big reason why the Huskies are playing well, with the senior throwing for 1,994 yards and 31 touchdowns.

8. East Forsyth (10-0)

Another quarterback that’s been playing really well in North Carolina is Bryce Baker, who has thrown for 2,629 yards and 30 touchdowns to just four picks.

9. Mallard Creek (8-2)

The Mavericks this season had totaled three shutout victories. Only losses have come to Grayson (Georgia) and Hough.

10. Cardinal Gibbons (8-1)

Hoggard's #45 Jaret Austin returns a fumble as Hoggard took on Cardinal Gibbons in the 4A State Playoff Semi Final game Friday Dec. 1, 2023 at Hoggard's Scott Braswell Stadium in Wilmington, N.C. Hoggard won 41-20 to become the 2023 NCHSAA 4A East Champions. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS / KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK

Quarterback Gannon Jones has been a steady cog in the Crusaders' success this season, throwing for over 2,200 yards and 24 touchdowns.

11. Dudley (10-0)

The Panthers' defense has really been getting after opposing quarterbacks, racking up 74.5 sacks through nine games. Don't forget about the 218 tackles that have for a loss.

12. Seventy-First (10-0)

Not many teams have run the ball as effectively as the Falcons this season. Seventy-First has totaled 3,353 yards and 44 touchdowns on the ground so far.

13. Hickory (10-0)

Not many opposing teams are able to put it altogther against Hickory's stingy defense, which has only allowed 116 points and recorded three shutouts.

14. Hoggard (9-1)

The Vikings started off the season with a 35-32 loss to Cleveland and all they've done since then is continue to win nine straight games.

15. Havelock (9-1)

Jaylen Hewitt is one of the leaders in the state in the passing, with 3,174 yards and 31 touchdowns. Pretty solid numbers.

16. Independence (9-1)

Another week and another impressive victory for the Patriots as they pulled off a 41-34 win over Butler.

17. Watauga (9-0)

After a gritty Week 1 victory over T.C. Roberson, the Pioneers have followed it up in the several weeks with several dominant wins and of course, remaining undefeated.

18. Asheville School (6-1)

There's no 'blues' over at Asheville School as they've been playing lights out to start the season. The Blues has out-scored opponents 255-74 through seven games.

19. Mount Tabor (8-2)

Hard to fault the Spartans too much when it comes to the losses they've had so far this season. Only two losses have come against Grimsley and East Forsyth.

20. Charlotte Catholic (7-2)

Hard to drop a team too far after suffering a 24-9 losses to Providence Day and a talented Crest squad. Still hanging in the Top 25 this week.

21. West Forsyth (7-3)

West Forsyth dropped their third game of the season against No. 8 East Forsyth, 48-42.

22. Robinson (10-0)

The Bulldogs through 10 games has out-scored opponents 496-74. Not too shabby when it comes to the defensive side of things.

23. Clayton (9-1)

When you lose to the state's No. 5 team in Cleveland by just a couple of points, you have made a valid reason why your team should catapault into the Top 25.

24. Charlotte Christian (7-3)

The Knights only three losses on the season have come against Independence, Providence Day and Rabun Gap-Nacoochee, all teams ranked ahead of Charlotte Christian.

25. Northern Guilford (9-1)

Taking the final spot is the Nighthawks, who are coming off a 42-14 loss to second-ranked Grimsley.

---

Follow SBLive North Carolina throughout the 2024 high school football season for Live Updates, the most up to date Schedules & Scores and complete coverage from the preseason through the state championships!

Download the SBLive App

To get live updates on your phone - as well as follow your favorite teams and top games - you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App| Download Android App

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivenc