Historic 110th Season of North Carolina High School Football Championships Kicks Off Friday

The road to championship glory begins this Friday as 253 high school football teams across North Carolina embark on their playoff journeys, marking the 110th season of crowning state champions in the Old North State. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) released the playoff brackets on Sunday, November 10, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting postseason culminating in four state championship games in December.

This year's championship games will be split between two of the state's most prestigious venues - Kenan Memorial Stadium at UNC Chapel Hill and Carter-Finley Stadium at NC State. Kenan Stadium, which has hosted 81 championship games since 1989, will add two more to its historic legacy, while Carter-Finley will host its 35th and 36th championship contests.

The 2024 playoffs feature an intriguing mix of traditional powerhouses and fresh faces. Four programs will make their NCHSAA playoff debuts this season: Montgomery Central in the 3A bracket, and Palisades, West Cabarrus, and Willow Spring in the 4A bracket. These newcomers will look to make their mark against some of the state's most successful programs.

Speaking of success, nine of the top ten winningest playoff programs in NCHSAA history since 1972 are back in the hunt this year. Shelby, the all-time leader with 120 playoff victories, leads this distinguished group. Other notable returning powers include Reidsville (97 wins), Swain County (97 wins), and Richmond County (89 wins). In an interesting first-round matchup, two of these historic programs will clash as Thomasville travels to Robbinsville.

The 2024 season has already produced some remarkable individual performances that could make the difference in the playoffs. Havelock's Jaylen Hewitt leads all passers with 3,174 yards and 31 touchdowns, while White Oak's Tareavion Mageo has dominated on the ground with 2,095 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns. In the receiving game, Hobbton's Reggie Thompson has been nearly unstoppable, accumulating 1,361 yards on 82 receptions.

This year's playoffs also feature several compelling comeback stories. North Iredell is breaking the longest playoff drought in the state, making their first appearance since 2006 - meaning no player on the current roster was even born when the Raiders last reached the postseason. They're joined by 42 other programs returning to the playoffs after various lengths of absence, including Northern Vance (last appearance: 2008) and South Rowan (2009).

Fans unable to attend the games in person won't miss any of the action, as 68 first-round games will be broadcast live on the NFHS Network. An additional 45 local radio stations will provide coverage of various games across the state, ensuring comprehensive coverage of this historic playoff season.

The path to the championships, scheduled for December 20th and 21st, represents the fourth iteration of the current NCHSAA Football Playoff format. This format was implemented following the 2002-2021 period when eight champions were crowned, including the COVID-19 impacted spring season of 2021.

The seeding process this year maintains its focus on rewarding conference success while utilizing RPI ratings for final placements. Conference champions receive automatic berths and are seeded first, followed by additional qualifiers based on both conference standing and RPI ratings. The system ensures that teams can only qualify if all teams above them in their conference standings have also made the playoffs, maintaining competitive integrity.

As the 110th season of North Carolina high school football championships begins, the stage is set for another memorable playoff season. From historic programs chasing additional glory to newcomers looking to make their mark, the next few weeks promise to deliver the excitement and drama that high school football fans have come to expect from one of the state's most cherished sporting traditions.