Who is in it? Who came out? NCHSAA Football Playoff Photo for Gastonia and Shelby Teams

High school football teams in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties have reached the final stages of the 2024 season, and many of them are in the hunt for a playoff spot.

In leagues with six or more member schools such as Big South 3A, Western Foothills 3A and Catawba Valley 2A, the top two finishers in the league automatically qualify for the playoffs. As for Southern Piedmont 1A/2A and Catawba Shores 1A/2A, automatic qualification is granted to its first 1A and 2A.

The NCHSAA’s RPI ranking system will be used to fill out the remainder of the 64 teams for each classification, with the East and West brackets comprising 32 teams each.

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Playoff brackets will be revealed on November 10, with first-round games beginning on November 15. The regional championships will be held on December 13 and the NCHSAA state championships will be played on December 20-21.

Here’s what the playoff picture looks like for regional teams heading into Week 10.

Great South 3A

• The contenders for the champion title: Ashbrook (7-1, 4-1 Big South 3A; NCHSAA 3A West RPI: 7); South Point (5-1, 3-1; RPI: 2); Crest (6-1, 3-1; RPI: 1); Kings Mountain (5-2, 3-1; RPI: 16); Hunter Huss (4-2, 3-1; RPI: 30)

• Most favorable time? South Point. Their last three opponents (Forestview, North Gaston and Hunter Huss) have combined for a 7-14 record this season. Additionally, the Red Raiders hold tiebreakers against Crest and Kings Mountain, beating both head-to-head earlier this month.

• The team that needs a good stretch run the most? Hunter Huss. The Huskies face a challenge down the stretch, finishing the season against Crest, Ashbrook and South Point, teams with a combined record of 18-3 this fall. Sitting comfortably on the playoff bubble, Huss faces a daunting task in his quest for another postseason appearance.

South Piedmont 1A/2A

• Teams seeking the 1A/2A South Piedmont title, 2A automatic qualification: Shelby (6-2, 4-0 Southern Piedmont 1A/2A; NCHSAA 2A West RPI: 5); Burns (6-2, 4-0; RPI: 10)

• Teams seeking automatic 1A qualification: Bessemer City (5-4, 3-2; NCHSAA 1A West RPI: 14); Cherryville (3-5, 2-2; RPI: 26)

• On the bubble? : Highland Tech (3-4, 0-4; 1A West RPI: 25); a win Friday against Thomas Jefferson would almost certainly punch the Rams’ ticket to the 2024 state playoffs. However, a loss could knock Highland Tech out of the playoffs, with the NCHSAA’s “leapfrog provision” stipulating that no team cannot be ranked ahead of others who finished ahead of it in their respective conference. Thomas Jefferson is currently ranked 33rd, according to the NCHSAA 1A West RPI. East Gaston (3-5, 2-2; 2A West RPI: 30) is also on the 2A West playoff bubble. The Warriors’ remaining schedule includes a trip to Shelby followed by the regular season finale against Highland Tech.

Western Foothills 3A

• Candidate for the title of champion: Hickory (8-0, 5-0 Western Foothills 3A; NCHSAA 3A West RPI: 8); North Lincoln (7-1, 4-1; RPI: 6); Statesville (7-1, 4-1; RPI: 5)

• General offers likely: East Lincoln (6-2, 3-2; RPI: 22)

• On the bubble: North Iredell (3-5, 2-3; RPI: 31)

• What if Hickory trips? : Statesville is the final hurdle for Hickory in its quest for another WFAC title. However, if the Greyhounds get upset, there is the potential for a three-way tie at the top of the conference between Statesville, Hickory and North Lincoln, if the latter eliminates rival East Lincoln.

Catawba Valley 2A

• The contenders for the champion title: Bunker Hill (5-2, 3-1 Catawba Valley 2A; NCHSAA 2A West RPI: 7); Young girl (6-2, 4-1; RPI: 14); Lincolnton (4-4, 4-1; RPI: 26)

• General offers likely: Bandys (5-2, 2-2; RPI: 22); West Lincoln (5-3, 3-2; RPI: 23)

• Lincolnton-Maiden faces ‘turnkey game’ for CVAC title picture: A Maiden win Friday night gives them the inside track to a league championship, this after a 28-0 drubbing of Bunker Hill last week. At worst, a win at Lincolnton puts it in position to win a share of the league crown, although a 32-18 loss to Bunker Hill would put the Wolves among the at-large teams in the 2A West.

Shores of Catawba 1A/2A

• The contenders for the champion title: Corvian Community (8-0, 5-0 Catawba Shores 1A/2A; NCHSAA 1A West RPI: 7); Davidson Community School (5-3, 4-1; NCHSAA 2A West RPI: 18)

• General offers likely: Mountain Island Charter (4-4, 3-2; 1A West RPI: 19); Christ Roi (3-5, 3-2; 1A West RPI: 20); Bishop McGuinness (5-3, 2-3; RPI: 15)

• Crucial scenario for Corvian: The Cardinals can clinch the CSAC title with a win Friday at Pine Lake Prep. If PLP scores an upset, it puts Davidson Community School back in the title race and gives Mountain Island Charter a glimmer of hope in its effort to poach one of the top seeds in 1A West from Corvian when they clash. during week 11.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: NCHSAA: Gastonia, Shelby Area High School Football Playoff Photo