By David Rogers. RALEIGH, N.C. — The High Country will be well represented in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s state football championship playoffs in 2022, beginning with Northwestern Conference champion No. 3 seeded Watauga hosting the No. 30 seed, South Iredell on Nov. 4.
In the 4A West division, Grimsley earned the No. 1 seed and Mooresville the No. 2 seed, ahead of No. 3 Watauga and No. 4 East Forsyth. The full seedings and matchups in the 4A West bracket:
#1 Grimsley (10-0) vs. #32 Davie (4-6)
#16 Reagan (8-2) vs. #17 Charlotte Catholic (8-2)
#8 Independence (9-1) vs. #25 Page (5-5)
#9 Olympic (10-0) vs. #24 T.C. Roberson (6-4)
#5 Hough (8-2) vs. #28 Providence (5-5)
#12 Mallard Creek (7-3) vs. #21 Ardrey Kell (8-2)
#13 Asheville (8-2) vs. #20 Mount Tabor (8-2)
#4 East Forsyth (10-0) vs. #29 West Forsyth (4-6)
#3 Watauga (9-1) vs. #30 South Iredell (4-6)
#14 Northwest Guilford (8-2) vs. #19 Southeast Guilford (7-3)
#6 Weddington (9-1) vs. #27 Marvin Ridge (5-5)
#11 Cox Mill (8-2) vs. #22 Lake Norman (7-3)
#7 A.C. Reynolds (9-1) vs. #26 A.L. Brown (6-4)
#10 Julius Chambers (8-2) vs. #23 Porter Ridge (7-3)
#15 Butler (8-2) vs. #18 Hickory Ridge (6-4)
#2 Mooresville (9-1) vs. #31 Southwest Guilford (5-5)
Watauga will compete in the lower half of the bracket. If the Pioneers get past South Iredell, they will play the winner of Northwest Guilford and Southeast Guilford in Round 2.
Watauga is the only Northwestern Conference 4A school to gain a berth in the playoffs. The others considered are Alexander Central and South Caldwell.
At the 3A level in the West bracket No. 9 Hibriten, #21 Freedom, and No. 29 Ashe County are familiar Northwestern Conference names that earned berths in the playoffs. Former NWC members making the cut include No. 32 St. Stephens and No. 22 Hickory. Both schools left the NWC last year with realignment. The complete list of 3A West pairings and seedings:
#1 Kings Mountain (10-0) vs. #32 St. Stephens (4-6)
#16 Central Davidson (8-2) vs. #17 Smoky Mountain (6-4)
#8 West Charlotte (5-5) vs. #25 Cramer (4-6)
#9 Hibriten (5-5) vs. #24 Southern Guilford (6-4)
#5 Northwest Cabarrus (9-1) vs. #28 Ashbrook (4-6)
#12 Ledford (9-1) vs. #21 Freedom (6-4)
#13 Tuscola (9-1) vs. #20 Forestview (4-6)
#4 East Lincoln (10-0) vs. #29 Ashe County (3-7)
#3 Oak Grove (10-0) vs. #30 West Mecklenburg (5-5)
#14 Crest (7-3) vs. #19 Statesville (7-3)
#6 Dudley (8-2) vs. #27 Pisgah (4-6)
#11 South Point (9-1) vs. #22 Hickory (7-3)
#7 Erwin (5-5) vs. #26 Carson (5-5)
#10 Parkwood (5-5) vs. #23 Eastern Guilford (6-4)
#15 West Rowan (8-2) vs. #18 Franklin (6-4)
#2 West Henderson (10-0) vs. #31 North Davidson (3-7
In the 2A West bracket, familiar names from the region receiving berths include No. 25 North Wilkes, No. 24 Wilkes Central, No. 5 Maiden, and No. 2 East Surry.
In the 1A West bracket, teams around the High Country region with a chance at a state championship include No. 17 Mountain Heritage, No. 28 Avery County, No. 4 Mt. Airy, No. 30 Elkin, No. 6 Draughn, No. 11 Mitchell, and No. 10 East Wilkes.
