Week 3 of the NC high school football season brings one of the most anticipated games in years.
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Nationally-ranked Providence Day will visit nationally-ranked Hough on Friday. The teams are ranked 1-2 in the state and in The Observer’s Sweet 16. But that’s just one of many big games in the region over the next few days.
Here are previews, schedules and the Talking Preps pregame show to highlight the action.
Corvian Community (2-0) at Chambers (2-0), Thurs, 7: Corvian, a 2A power, isn’t afraid to step up to play much larger schools. The Cardinals shut out 7A Independence, 20-0, last week and now faces an unbeaten 8A Chambers team that is averaging 49 points and more than 400 yards rushing per game. Corvian 4-star defensive lineman Nate Kamba, an Auburn commit, and his teammates will try to slow that Cougars’ rushing attack.
Buford, GA (2-0) at Mallard Creek (2-0), Fri, 7:30: Mallard Creek comes off beating one of the best teams in Virginia — three-time state champ Maury last week — and hosts one of the best teams in Georgia. Buford, ranked No. 2 nationally by High School Football America, recently gained 5-star defensive lineman Jalen Brewster who transferred from Texas.
Providence Day (2-0) at Hough (2-0), Fri, 7:30: Providence Day is No. 29 in the HSFA national poll and Hough is No. 27. Providence Day has 9 D1 commits and 8 players with D1 offers. Hough has 9 D1 commits and 10 with D1 offers. There haven’t been too many prep games in this state with 36 Division I recruits on the field. Things to watch? Can new Providence Day QB Cole Cater deal with Hough’s ferocious pass rush, and can Hough’s all-star defensive backfield deal with the best receiving corps it will face all season.
USA Today has this one as one of the top 10 games in America this week, and it’s six experts are split, 3-3, on who will win. The average score? 24-21.
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Charlotte Catholic (1-1) at Charlotte Christian (1-1), Fri, 7: Catholic comes in off a stunning 15-7 upset loss to Charlotte Country Day, which beat the Cougars for the first time in 14 years. Christian lost, 56-23, to Greensboro’s Page High to start the season but bounced back with a 49-6 win over Buford (SC) last week, led by sophomore QB Greg McDermott (4 TDs pass, 1 rush). McDermott is the son of former NFL head coach Sean McDermott.
Marvin Ridge at Ardrey Kell, Fri, 7:30: New Marvin Ridge coach David Johnson, the sixth in school history, has the Mavericks rolling, outscoring opponents 120-13, led by junior QB Levi Kerr (513 yards, 7 TDs). Friday brings a big step up in competition, however. New coach Carter Greene has Ardrey Kell off to a strong start and the Knights are averaging 35 points per game.
Mooresville (0-2) at AL Brown (2-0), Fri, 7: Mooresville is one of several area powers trying to avoid 0-3 starts. The Blue Devils were upset by Sun Valley, 28-23, last week. Brown RB Lemar Grier has 334 yards and 7 TDs in two games and the Wonders look like the NC football power they used to be, with wins over Porter Ridge (42-10) and arch rival Concord (44-6) to start the season.
Myers Park (0-2) at Providence (1-1), Fri, 7:30: Like Mooresville, Myers Park seeks to avoid a 0-3 start, though the Mustangs have faced two top 10 NC teams in Providence Day and Weddington. Providence doesn’t have a rushing touchdown in two weeks, but Bolt Wilton (9.5 tackles per game) and the defense have played pretty well. Wilton, Liam Drayton and Granger Sustko have 9 sacks between them in two games.
West Charlotte (2-0) at Summerville, SC (2-0), Fri, 7:30: A young West Charlotte team continues to try to navigate one of the region’s toughest non-conference schedules. After losing to nationally-ranked Grimsley to start the season, the Lions gave first-year coach DJ McFadden his first win at the school, 22-20, over Monroe last week. Up next? A traditional SC power that is averaging more than 220 yards rushing per game.
THURSDAY
Corvian at Chambers, 7
FRIDAY
(Games kickoff at 7 p.m. unless listed)
A.C. Reynolds at Jay M. Robinson
Ardrey Kell at Marvin Ridge, 7:30 p.m.
Ballantyne Ridge at South Mecklenburg, 7:30 p.m.
Ben L. Smith at Charlotte Country Day
Buford (Ga.) at Mallard Creek, 7:30 p.m.
Butler at Indian Land, 7:30 p.m.
Central Cabarrus at Mount Pleasant
Charlotte Catholic at Charlotte Christian
Cherryville at Lincolnton
Concord at North Gaston
Cox Mill at Cuthbertson
East Mecklenburg at Garinger, 7:30 p.m.
East Rowan at Piedmont
East Wilkes at North Iredell
Fred T. Foard at West Iredell
Lake Norman at West Cabarrus
Harding at Independence
Maiden at North Lincoln
Marvin Ridge at Ardrey Kell, 7:30 p.m.
Mooresville at A.L. Brown
Myers Park at Providence, 7:30 p.m.
Northwood Academy at Charlotte Latin
North Mecklenburg at Hunter Huss, 7:30 p.m.
North Rowan at Lake Norman Charter
Northwest Cabarrus at Ashbrook
Olympic at West Mecklenburg, 7:30 p.m.
Palisades at Clover, 7:30 p.m.
Providence Day at Hough, 7:30 p.m.
Ravenscroft at Cannon School
Rocky River at Berry, 7:30 p.m.
South Iredell at Hickory Ridge
Statesville at Hopewell, 7:30 p.m.
Sun Valley at Parkwood
Trinity Christian at Metrolina Christian
West Charlotte at Summerville (SC), 7:30 pm
West Forsyth at Porter Ridge
This story was originally published September 3, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline “High school football update: Thursday’s live scores, previews, schedules for Friday.”
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