NCHSAA state champs from Weddington, Hickory start atop N.C. statewide football polls

Two reigning NC High School Athletic Association state champions start the season atop The Charlotte Observer and News & Observer of Raleigh’s preseason statewide rankings.

The newspapers will have update these rankings weekly throughout the season.

In the 4A poll, reigning NCHSAA 4A state champion Weddington starts out at No. 1, just ahead of Independence, a team Weddington beat in the state semifinals last season.

Weddington finished 14-2 last season, winning six playoff games to win the school’s first 4A state title. The Warriors beat Wilmington Hoggard 56-21 in the championship round.

Weddington begins the season Thursday against nationally ranked Providence Day at Bank of America Stadium.

In the 3A poll, state champion Hickory is ranked ahead of Fayetteville 71st. The Red Tornadoes beat 71st 33-26 in the 2023 state final.

Hickory finished 16-0 in 2023.

Hickory begins the ‘24 season Friday at Lenoir’s Hibriten High School.

▪ The NCISAA private school state poll will debut next week.

▪ Note: The polls are compiled by Observer correspondent and Talking Preps’ co-host Chris Hughes. Hughes, 47, has been going to N.C. high school football games since 1979. He began coaching high school football in 1998 and began covering the sport professionally in 2002 when he launched a statewide website. In 2007, he started CarolinaPreps.com , when he began to do football rankings. Hughes, who has also done color commentary for Shrine Bowl broadcasts, has visited almost every school stadium in North Carolina.