After a season came and went way too fast, who does everyone see being strong and favorites to win it all next year?
2026 3A & 4A favorites
- Thread starter JustaSportsfan
- Start date
I would start with Shelby, and Reidsville until proven otherwise. Then throw ER and Linc. in for good measure.
Go Mountaineers
Go Mountaineers
4A West: Maiden, Hibriten, Stuart Cramer, Burns, Brevard. All these teams return a good bit.
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Reidsville should still be preseason number 1 in 4a
I think Shelby and lincolnton are 1 and 2 in 3a
I think Shelby and lincolnton are 1 and 2 in 3a
Hard not to agree. What will Shelby and Reidsville have coming back. Losing a lot of production but I’m sure they have talent waiting.
3a-Lincolnton, Shelby
4a-Reidsville, Burns, Maiden, Hibriten, Stuart Cramer
4a-Reidsville, Burns, Maiden, Hibriten, Stuart Cramer
3A Linconton should be loaded. Shelby should be fine but theyll have to replace a 3 year starter at QB.
4A Reidsville will still be Reidsville but Neal and Harrison will be alot to replace. Burns probably returns the most with Cramer close behind.
4A Reidsville will still be Reidsville but Neal and Harrison will be alot to replace. Burns probably returns the most with Cramer close behind.
Don't forget Eastern Randolph in 3A. Burns for sure the favorite in 4A.
Burns is going to be a monster!!!!
Hibriten lost 21 seniors, but they return a stud QB the JV was undefeated but they have a lot pieces to replace but will benefit from a bad conference
I agree. I think Burns will be REAL good with their young team from this year. Hibriten is a program that is always going to be competitive and their coaching had one of the best game plans I saw this year. Maiden is Maiden they will reload. Stuart Cramer loses a great leader in our qb and have to replace our linebacker corps, but the strength of Stuart Cramer is the rising senior class. They will be fun to watch and to see what Coach Simmons can do with a full year under his belt.
Shhhh….
Be very, very quiet…
It’s wabbit season…
Yeah went a little far with that one huh?
But…
Shhhh…
3A: I'll just ditto this. Linc will be nasty. Shelby is always good and I doubt they don't have a QB ready to go.
Just looked up E Randolph, they are bringing back a ton of production to a team that finished 6th in 3A. That is a solid pick for sure.
Exactly why I included them. Stud QB and JV team was one of the best in the state in 4A.
Little too much. But ER probably preseason 1 or 2 with LincolntonShhhh….
Be very, very quiet…
It’s wabbit season…
Yeah went a little far with that one huh?
But…
Shhhh…
3a
East
Northeastern
Midway
Pender
Princeton
James Kenan
West
Eastern Randolph
Lincolnton
Shelby
Mountain Heritage
Mount Airy
East
Northeastern
Midway
Pender
Princeton
James Kenan
West
Eastern Randolph
Lincolnton
Shelby
Mountain Heritage
Mount Airy
Hendersonville will definitely be in the mix. They return ALOT from a 9-3 team
6th?
Cmon now…
Check around at what at least one poster, cough cough @Shelby Lion, said after the SC uh scoring contest…
6th?
Really?
But thanks for saying it’s a solid pick…
Oh and it’s Eastern Randolph…
Directional I know…
Don’t really matter what I think…
If you ain’t first you’re last Ricky Bobby…
All I know is what a Shelby fan posted on these here forums…
And I definitely agree with that sentiment. Course he gone now. Off celebrating with his near sighted, odiferously challenged wife…
Oh yeah, I’m 17 feet up in a tree with service…
Hush
He aint gone hes hanging out with his OSUT grad....But hes watching ha haDon’t really matter what I think…
If you ain’t first you’re last Ricky Bobby…
All I know is what a Shelby fan posted on these here forums…
And I definitely agree with that sentiment. Course he gone now. Off celebrating with his near sighted, odiferously challenged wife…
Oh yeah, I’m 17 feet up in a tree with service…
Hush
Yeah I said it and stand by it....
If Eastern Randolph kicks field goal and beats us they are your 3a champs .. Just an Old mans opinion.... Ive been wrong before but
not often... Im humble too just ask me
HA HA HA HA
Merry Christmas all.... Im always lurking
Merry Christmas you old toothless buzzard…
Hug that grad for me please…
Hug everyone while you can…
They don’t like it but I really don’t care
Lurker?
That was your high school nickname wasn’t it?
| MaxPreps Final Season Division 3A Football (2025) Rankings | ||||
| 1 |
| 13-3 | 31.40 | 7.8 |
| 2 |
| 12-2 | 21.60 | 0.7 |
| 3 |
| 11-3 | 21.30 | 6.3 |
| 4 |
| 9-3 | 20.00 | 7.5 |
| 5 |
| 11-5 | 19.90 | 7.0 |
| 6 |
| 10-3 | 19.90 | 4.3 |
| 7 |
| 10-2 | 19.80 | 0.2 |
| 8 |
| 9-4 | 16.70 | 4.1 |
| 9 |
| 9-2 | 13.90 | -6.0 |
| 10 |
| 8-6 | 13.70 | 11.1 |
| 11 | Pender | 10-2 | 12.20 | -2.8 |
| 12 | East Rutherford | 9-2 | 11.50 | -10.2 |
"Reidsville doesnt rebuild or reload, they re....." - one of yall, probably
Gonna pray for 0-10 seasons for both reidsville and Shelby 
just so somebody else gets a chance to win it all haha (yes the wounds of our a## whipping is still fresh) in all seriousness 4a burns is definitely the favorites in the west. Brevard does return a good bit and got some talent coming up as well id say probably be a 3rd round team next year. id also throw pisgahs name in the mix they're always tough and they got some talent coming up next year to
just so somebody else gets a chance to win it all haha (yes the wounds of our a## whipping is still fresh) in all seriousness 4a burns is definitely the favorites in the west. Brevard does return a good bit and got some talent coming up as well id say probably be a 3rd round team next year. id also throw pisgahs name in the mix they're always tough and they got some talent coming up next year toPisgah will go as far as underclassmen develop next year. This year was a very senior heavy team and the junior class is thin at skill positions. A talented group currently sits in 9th and 10th just a matter of how soon things come together at the varsity level.
Saw it TD…
MaxPreps Final Season Division 3A Football (2025) Rankings 1 13-3 31.40 7.8 2 12-2 21.60 0.7 3 11-3 21.30 6.3 4 9-3 20.00 7.5 5 11-5 19.90 7.0 6 10-3 19.90 4.3 7 10-2 19.80 0.2 8 9-4 16.70 4.1 9 9-2 13.90 -6.0 10 8-6 13.70 11.1 11 Pender 10-2 12.20 -2.8 12 East Rutherford 9-2 11.50 -10.2
Never liked Maxpreps and their super secret sauce formula…
What that RPI thingy say?
More of an eye test, only team that should have possibly beaten Shelby in playoffs kinda guy.
Merry Christmas sir…
MaxPreps Final Season Division 3A Football (2025) Rankings 1 13-3 31.40 7.8 2 12-2 21.60 0.7 3 11-3 21.30 6.3 4 9-3 20.00 7.5 5 11-5 19.90 7.0 6 10-3 19.90 4.3 7 10-2 19.80 0.2 8 9-4 16.70 4.1 9 9-2 13.90 -6.0 10 8-6 13.70 11.1 11 Pender 10-2 12.20 -2.8 12 East Rutherford 9-2 11.50 -10.2
Wow, so Shelby won it, but had to beat #4, #12, #6, #3, #5 in a row and all on the road (or neutral in State Championship)...and #2 lost to #5 in semifinals.
As far next season, let's start with Lincolnton:
They return
QB - Rashad Lynch - 2,699 yards, 33 TDs passing, plus 1,116 yards, 9 TDs rushing
RB/WR -R.J. Lynch - 489 yards, 5 TDs rushing, 1,158 yards, 15 TDs receiving
RB - Littlejohn - 354 yards, 4 TDs (abbreviated season)
RB - Nehemiah Thompson - 417 yards, 6 TDs rushing, 124 yards receiving
RB - Mayfield - 343 yards, 13 TDs rushing, Div-1 LB with 20+ offers
So they return their top 5 rushers and 4 of their top 5 receivers
RB/WR - R.J. Lynch - 53-1,158-15
WR - Messiah Thompson - 22-331-7
WR - Dailen Adams - 21-296-4
WR - Nehemiah Thompson - 8-124-0
Only lose Trashad Lineberger at WR
Next would be Eastern Randolph
They return
QB - McCallum
RBs - Walker and Combs (top 2)
WRs - Glover, Holdaway, Ford (3 of top 4) only graduate Revelle
Mt. Airy has to replace a once-in-a-couple-decades RB in Martin, but they return both QBs - they need to replace backfield and receiving corps
Shelby has to replace the all-time leading passer in program history, but returns Freshman phenom RB, and 3 of top 4 WRs...lots of returners on DEF and K.
What about the line? ... RB and WR are nothing without solid linemen.
I think we return 4 offensive linemen. Shelby will be really good on both lines from what I remember. They have some big time sophomores.
Shelby returns 2 of 5 starting OL and 3 of 4 starting DL
I’ve had the most fun joining live sports card breaks because the mix of team spots and random draws keeps things interesting without spending a ton. If someone’s chasing a specific player or just likes the surprise factor, it fits both moods. The chat during the breaks also makes it feel more like hanging out than just buying cards.
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