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What remaining Gastonia, Shelby football games will determine area teams' playoff fate?

joe l hughes ii, gaston gazette
·4 min read

The 2023 high school football season is swiftly drawing to a close. Nevertheless, there remains plenty to be decided over the campaign’s final three weeks in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties.

Here’s a look at the local playoff picture as it stands going into Week 9, followed by area games likely to have the greatest impact as the postseason nears.

How are the playoffs determined?

In conferences with six or more schools in one classification – such as Big South 3A, Western Foothills 3A and Catawba Valley 2A – the league’s top two finishers automatically qualify for the playoffs. As for Southern Piedmont 1A/2A and Catawba Shores 1A/2A, an automatic qualifier will be granted to its top 1A and 2A finishers.

The NCHSAA’s RPI rankings system will be used to fill out the 64-team field for each classification, with East and West brackets featuring 32 teams apiece.

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3A West

  • Crest (7-0, 4-0; tied for first in Big South 3A; RPI: 1)

  • Kings Mountain (7-0, 4-0; tied for first in Big South 3A; 3A West RPI: 2)

  • North Lincoln (4-3, 2-2; tied for third in Western Foothills 3A; RPI: 16)

  • East Lincoln (5-2, 2-2; tied for third in Western Foothills 3A; RPI: 18)

  • South Point (3-4, 1-3; tied for fifth in Big South 3A; RPI: 22)

  • Hunter Huss (4-3, 3-1; tied for third in Big South 3A; RPI: 24)

  • North Gaston (3-4, 1-3; tied for fifth in Big South 3A; RPI: 25)

  • Ashbrook (3-4, 3-1; tied for third in Big South 3A; RPI: 27)

2A West

  • West Lincoln (6-1, 3-1; tied for second in Catawba Valley 2A; RPI: 6)

  • East Gaston (7-0, 3-0; tied for first Southern Piedmont 1A/2A; RPI: 10)

  • Burns (5-2, 3-0; tied for first in Southern Piedmont 1A/2A; RPI: 16)

  • Shelby (4-3, 3-0; tied for first in Southern Piedmont 1A/2A; RPI: 26)

  • Lincolnton (3-4, 3-1; tied for second in Catawba Valley 2A; RPI: 30)

1A West

  • Mountain Island Charter (5-2, 2-2; hold top 1A spot in Catawba Shores 1A/2A; RPI: 11)

  • Bessemer City (4-4, 2-2; hold top 1A spot in Southern Piedmont 1A/2A; RPI: 24)

  • Cherryville (1-6, 1-2; fifth in Southern Piedmont 1A/2A; RPI: 30)

Top games remaining

Week 9 (Oct.12-13)

  • Ashbrook at South Point (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.): South Point has won 16 in a row over Ashbrook, a stretch dating back to 2005. After starting the season 0-4, Ashbrook has won three in a row. Conversely, three consecutive losses have dealt South Point’s playoff hopes a serious blow.

  • East Gaston at Burns: East Gaston is 7-0 for the first time in program history. Its stiffest test to date awaits Week 9 when the Warriors meet reigning Southern Piedmont 1A/2A champion Burns. The Bulldogs have been nearly unbeatable at home since 2019, winning 25 of their last 29 games at Ron Greene Stadium.

Week 10 (Oct. 20)

  • Hunter Huss at Crest: It’s been a while since Huss has played games of consequence this late in a season. If victorious in Week 9 against North Gaston, the Huskies set up a key Big South 3A matchup the following Friday at Crest. Likely undefeated coming in, the Chargers are in hot pursuit of a league title and 3A West’s top seed.

  • Shelby at East Gaston: If able to pass its first test at Burns, another awaits East Gaston seven days later with a visit from Shelby. The Golden Lions have turned their last three meetings into one-sided routs, averaging 62.3 points per game.

Week 11 (Oct. 27)

  • Ashbrook at Hunter Huss: After losing four in a row to Huss, Ashbrook is seeking a fourth consecutive win over its Gastonia city rival. In addition to bragging rights, the winner could leave with its season still intact.

  • Burns at Shelby: Burns dumped its Cleveland County rival twice last fall; the first time for the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A title, then two weeks later to eliminate Shelby from the playoffs. Will Burns affirm its recent dominance, or can Shelby earn sweet redemption and potentially a league championship?

  • Crest at Kings Mountain: Through seven games, Crest’s “unstoppable force” is averaging 52.4 points and 509.4 yards per game. An “immovable object” in its own right, the Kings Mountain defense has allowed 9.2 points per game. With a Big South 3A title and potentially 3A West’s top seed at stake, something has to give.

  • Lincolnton at West Lincoln: A late season surge has Lincolnton trending upward heading into Week 9, this after three consecutive wins. If able to keep the good times rolling, it sets up an intriguing matchup with rival West Lincoln at season’s end, potentially with second place in Catawba Valley 2A at stake.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: NCHSAA football: Top Gastonia, Shelby area games left in 2023 season