Providence Day is Carolinas Top 25 champ. Here are top football teams in 2 states
Providence Day is adding to a postseason full of awards today, finishing atop the Carolinas Top 25 poll.
The poll, sponsored by McClatchy media companies in North and South Carolina, ranks the best high school football teams in both states.
The Chargers, from Charlotte, finished 13-0 this season and won their fourth state championship in five years. Providence Day was atop the Carolinas’ poll for most of the season and was No. 1 when the final regular-season poll was released last month.
Providence Day is ranked inside the top 25 in at least three major national polls, higher than any other Carolinas team. The Chargers also were named Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 champions this week, winning a poll that began in 1984.
The Carolinas rankings are produced by longtime high school football expert Chris Hughes, a co-host of The Charlotte Observer’s Talking Preps streaming show.
Carolinas Top 25 final rankings
Rk, School, Hometown, Rec, Last ranking
1. Providence Day, NC (Charlotte) (13-0), 1
2. Hough, NC (Cornelius) (14-0), 2
3. Grimsley, NC (Greensboro) (15-0), 3
4. South Pointe, SC (Rock Hill) (14-1), 4
5. Dutch Fork, SC (Irmo) (12-1), 9
6. Northwestern, SC (Rock Hill) (13-1), 8
7. Millbrook, NC (Raleigh) (13-1), 7
8. West Charlotte, NC (Charlotte) (10-3), 6
9. Irmo, SC (Irmo) (12-2), 5
10. Summerville, SC (Summerville) (12-3), 17
11. Weddington, NC (Weddington) (12-2), 10
12. South Florence, SC (Florence) (13-2), 12
13. Hoggard, NC (Wilmington) (12-1), 16
14. Cardinal Gibbons, NC (Raleigh) (12-2), 15
15. Independence, NC (Charlotte) (10-3), 18
16. James Island, SC (Charleston) (12-2), 19
17. Oceanside Collegiate, SC (Mt. Pleasant) (13-2), 22
18. Indian Land, SC (Indian Land) (11-2), 20
19. Dorman, SC (Roebuck) (10-3), NR
20. Gaffney, SC (Gaffney) (9-4), NR
21. Watauga, NC (Boone) (15-0), NR
22. Greenwood, SC (Greenwood) (9-2), 11
23. Myers Park, NC (Charlotte) (9-3), 25
24. Crest, NC (Boiling Springs) (13-2), NR
25. Reidsville, NC (Reidsville) (13-2), NR
This story was originally published December 18, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Providence Day is Carolinas Top 25 champ. Here are top football teams in 2 states."
