High School football gameday: Your guide to this weekend’s games
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, runs Friday to Sunday and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools home games will move to Thursday to avoid the holiday.
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So the fourth straight week, there will be football games in the region on a Thursday, in addition to Friday. And with storms forecasted for Friday night, that may be a good thing.
To you ready for a busy week, we’ve got previews for key matchups, the Talking Preps pregame show, plus our picks and the full schedule.
Be sure to come back when the games begin for our live scoreboard and coverage.
Chambers (3-0) at Palisades (3-0), Thurs, 7 p.m.: Second-year Chambers coach Captain Munnerlyn has the Cougars back among the elite teams in the state. Chambers — which has 19 QB sacks in three weeks — moved up eight spots to No. 5 in the NC Super 25 statewide poll this week, and the Cougars are No. 4 in The Observer’s Sweet 16 regional poll, hunting their best start since a 2020 state championship season. Palisades is No. 15 in the state and No. 8 in The Sweet 16. The Pumas hunt a signature win against a true Mecklenburg County power.
Players to watch: Chambers QB Jamouri Nichols (439 yards passing, 8 TDs; 350 yards rushing, 3 TDs); Chambers RB Matt Taylor (350 yards rushing, 3 TDs, 10.3 ypc); Chambers LB Tyson Stancil (31 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sacks). Palisades QB Cole Hough (549 yards passing, 4 TDs; 125 rushing, 2 TDs); Palisades WR Riley Hicks (220 yards receiving, 2 TDs); Palisades DB Nick Rankin (17 tackles, interception).
Mallard Creek (2-1) at Myers Park (1-2), Thurs, 7 p.m.: Mallard Creek’s offense was rolling in two games to start the season — 45 points against N.C. power Rolesville and then 31 at three-time Virginia state champ Maury. But a flurry of turnovers slowed that momentum in a 41-7 loss last week to a Buford (GA) team that was ranked as high as No. 2 in the U.S.. Myers Park started the season with blowout losses to nationally-ranked Providence Day and state power Weddington, but handled Providence, 41-14, last week, giving first-year coach Duke Howell his first win.
Players to watch: Myers Park DL Bockarie Sesay; Myers Park OL Joseph Meyer; Myers Park DB Kam Guy. Mallard Creek RB Xzavier Edmong (238 yards rushing, TD); QB Cailen Napier (126 yards passing, 4 TDs; 297 yards rushing, TD)
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Garinger (1-2) at Ballantyne Ridge (0-3), Thurs, 7 p.m.: Garinger hasn’t won two games in a season in eight years and looks to end a two-game losing streak. Ballantyne Ridge beat Garinger last season, 49-14, and comes off a close, 22-20, loss to South Mecklenburg last week.
Players to watch: Ballantyne Ridge soph RB Osazee Inneh (433 yards rushing, 5 TDs); Ballantyne Ridge KR Ryder Polston (26.4 yards per return); Ballantyne Ridge ATH Holden Jones (30 tackles, 6 TFL). Garinger RB Laro Thompson (148 yards, 1 TD); Garinger WR Zachariah Peebles (six catches, 98 yards, 2 TDs); Garinger LB Mashon Daniels (29 tackles, 9.7 per game)
Crest (3-0) at Weddington (3-0), Thurs., 7 p.m.: Crest is the reigning N.C. 5A state champion; Weddington was a state semifinalist in 7A last season. In this week’s N.C. Super 25, Weddington is No. 8 and Crest is No. 20. Weddington won this same matchup last season, 31-10. Both teams are expected, again, to make deep playoff runs.
Players to watch: Crest QB KJ Bell (365 yards passing, 4 TDs); Crest RB Malachi Gamble (262 yards rushing, TD). Weddington QB Jared Street; C Bryce Johnson.
Sun Valley (2-1) at Monroe (1-2), Fri, 7 p.m.: Sun Valley is really turning into one of the area’s bigger surprise teams. After losing, 47-0, to Lake Norman to start the season, the Spartans have won two straight, averaging 34 points per game. Now they face a traditional Union County rival. Monroe, a small schools’ state champ two years ago, looks to snap a two-game losing streak. The losses? 8A West Charlotte and 7A Weddington.
Players to watch: Monroe RB Jamir Jackson (279 yards rushing, 4 TDs; 16 tackles, 9 TFL, sack); Monroe DE/LB Jaquan Tayor (18 tackles, 12 TFL). Sun Valley QB Grayson Hensley (191 yards passing, 4 TDs)
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Thursday, Sept. 10
Ardrey Kell at South Mecklenburg — 7 p.m.
Ashbrook at Marvin Ridge — 7 p.m.
Garinger at Ballantyne Ridge — 7 p.m.
Chambers at Palisades — 7 p.m.
Charlotte Latin at Providence — 7 p.m.
Crest at Weddington — 7 p.m.
Cuthbertson at Forest Hills — 7 p.m.
Hickory Ridge at Parkwood — 7 p.m.
Hopewell at Rocky River — 7 p.m.
Mallard Creek at Myers Park — 7 p.m.
Metrolina Christian Academy at Ravenscroft — 6 p.m.
North Mecklenburg at East Mecklenburg — 7 p.m.
Providence Day at Butler — 7 p.m.
West Charlotte at West Mecklenburg — 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 11
Arendell Parrott Academy at Faith Christian — 7 p.m.
SouthLake Christian Academy at Asheville Christian Academy — 7:30 p.m.
Burns at Lincolnton — 7:30 p.m.
Ambassador Christian School at Calvary Day — 7 p.m.
Cannon School at Charlotte Christian — 7 p.m.
Charlotte Catholic at Kings Mountain — 7:30 p.m.
Covenant Day at Christ the King — 7 p.m.
Draughn at Mountain Island Charter — 7 p.m.
Highland Tech at Cherryville — 7:30 p.m.
Hough at Mooresville — 7 p.m.
Independence at Lake Norman — 7 p.m.
Lake Norman Charter at Forestview — 7 p.m.
Sun Valley at Monroe — 7 p.m.
Piedmont at Montgomery Central — 7 p.m.
North Iredell at St. Stephens — 7:30 p.m.
South Iredell at Porter Ridge — 7 p.m.
South Point at Mount Pleasant — 7 p.m.
Statesville at Alexander Central — 7:30 p.m.
Stuart W. Cramer at Bessemer City — 7:30 p.m.
West Iredell at North Lincoln — 7:30 p.m.
West Lincoln at Shelby — 7:30 p.m.
West Stokes at Community School of Davidson — 7 p.m.
