‘Way too early’ Carolinas top 25 reveals best prep football teams in two states
South Carolina high school football state champion Dutch Fork headlines the “Way too early” Carolinas top 25 poll.
The rankings are sponsored by McClatchy media properties in the Carolinas.
Dutch Fork was 13-0 last season and is ranked among the nation’s top 25 teams by Sports Illustrated in preseason.
N.C. powers Providence Day, Weddington, Grimsley and Rolesville follow Dutch Fork in the rankings of the top high school teams in North and South Carolina.
Providence Day was ranked No. 1 in The Charlotte Observer’s Sweet 16 regional “way too early” poll.
The Carolinas Top 25
| Rk | School | State | Hometown | 2024 record |
| 1 | Dutch Fork | SC | Irmo | (13-0) |
| 2 | Providence Day | NC | Charlotte | (9-3) |
| 3 | Weddington | NC | Weddington | (13-1) |
| 4 | Grimsley | NC | Greensboro | (16-0) |
| 5 | Rolesville | NC | Rolesville | (14-2) |
| 6 | Northwestern | SC | Rock Hill | (14-0) |
| 7 | Gaffney | SC | Gaffney | (10-2) |
| 8 | Summerville | SC | Summerville | (13-1) |
| 9 | Hough | NC | Cornelius | (12-2) |
| 10 | West Charlotte | NC | Charlotte | (13-2) |
| 11 | Mallard Creek | NC | Charlotte | (10-3) |
| 12 | Cardinal Gibbons | NC | Raleigh | (12-2) |
| 13 | South Pointe | SC | Rock Hill | (11-3) |
| 14 | Spartanburg | SC | Spartanburg | (9-3) |
| 15 | Millbrook | NC | Raleigh | (11-2) |
| 16 | South Florence | SC | Florence | (12-3) |
| 17 | Westside | SC | Anderson | (13-1) |
| 18 | Seventy-First | NC | Fayetteville | (15-1) |
| 19 | Irmo | SC | Irmo | (12-2) |
| 20 | Sumter | SC | Sumter | (12-1) |
| 21 | Richmond | NC | Rockingham | (10-3) |
| 22 | East Forsyth | NC | Kernersville | (13-1) |
| 23 | Hickory | NC | Hickory | (14-1) |
| 24 | Ridge View | SC | Columbia | (7-6) |
| 25 | T.L. Hanna | SC | Anderson | (9-3) |
This story was originally published May 9, 2025 at 5:30 AM with the headline "‘Way too early’ Carolinas top 25 reveals best prep football teams in two states."
Langston Wertz Jr.
The Charlotte Observer