Everybody is Sleeping on 8-1 Walkertown in 3A

ncfootball_17

Senior
Mar 26, 2009
850
927
93
I don't think anyone is sleeping on them, they just haven't proven themselves really. Not to take anything away from Walkertown, but their only good win was against Reidsville and Reidsville basically handed them that game. From players to coaches on Reidsville's team, they all seemed lost that game. The other team they played that had a pulse was West Rowan and it wasn't even competitive with WR winning 43-6. Their other 8 games were against BAD teams.

They are a good team and hopefully they make some noise in the playoffs, just not sure I would put them in the state championship contender conversation yet.
 

Wow71

Senior
Jul 4, 2015
755
980
93
Tville IMO is in a similar situation. They are 8-1 and have played a relatively weak schedule so far. I do not think they are a contender, but could make some playoff noise with a bunch of fast skills. The 3A West is loaded with traditionally strong teams. N Stanly, Shelby, Hendersonville, Walkertown, Tville, Mt Airy, E Randolph, Chase, Lincolnton, M Heritage and others. Pretty dang loaded bracket.
 

31ocdavis

Junior
Aug 8, 2025
217
341
63
Tville IMO is in a similar situation. They are 8-1 and have played a relatively weak schedule so far. I do not think they are a contender, but could make some playoff noise with a bunch of fast skills. The 3A West is loaded with traditionally strong teams. N Stanly, Shelby, Hendersonville, Walkertown, Tville, Mt Airy, E Randolph, Chase, Lincolnton, M Heritage and others. Pretty dang loaded bracket.
Is ER going east for the playoffs?
 
Mar 26, 2021
301
264
63
Tville IMO is in a similar situation. They are 8-1 and have played a relatively weak schedule so far. I do not think they are a contender, but could make some playoff noise with a bunch of fast skills. The 3A West is loaded with traditionally strong teams. N Stanly, Shelby, Hendersonville, Walkertown, Tville, Mt Airy, E Randolph, Chase, Lincolnton, M Heritage and others. Pretty dang loaded bracket.
3A And 5A West are both insane.
 

WNC_MountainMan

Freshman
Aug 17, 2026
37
67
12
Tville IMO is in a similar situation. They are 8-1 and have played a relatively weak schedule so far. I do not think they are a contender, but could make some playoff noise with a bunch of fast skills. The 3A West is loaded with traditionally strong teams. N Stanly, Shelby, Hendersonville, Walkertown, Tville, Mt Airy, E Randolph, Chase, Lincolnton, M Heritage and others. Pretty dang loaded bracket.
It is easy to speculate the west but in all honesty it runs through Shelby and the only teams that legit have a chance to match their athleticism and contend are Lincolnton, Hendersonville and Walkertown this year. Shelby returned a lot, have proved they are rolling back with the same energy as last season. The Lincolnton/Shelby game was decided within 2 points; both of those teams are very good and athletic. Hendersonville has had a great season and just cliniched their conference title from Mtn. Heritage. Walkertown is running their area and having a solid even attack offensively with a good defensive approach.

North Stanly is overated in a 3-tier conference with limited competition. Chase has the "stats" but look at the strength of schedule and check the W/L column on who they lost too vs who they defeated. Mtn Heritage is a great program, but replacing some holes left by last years graduates, they are still a scheme nightmare for anyone not ready for their style of play and def dont play them at home in the playoffs. Mt. Airy will be a tough out, but they will not have the answers for top 4 teams. Thomasville I don't think is there yet and will also have some matchup issues.

Eastern Randolph was the only team last year that played their brand of ball and presented Shelby any type of friction in the playoffs. If they returned that huge OL and good RB then I would say they truly could be in the mix. Hopefully they found a kicker in the offseason, because last year on the 3 yd line with time ticking they could have easily won it off the foot of a kicker!

3A in the West is always so fun and intriguing because of the layout of 2nd, 3rd and 4th round matchups that would be great high school football played the way it should be played in front of massive crowds.

Excited to see how this plays out and what games I will travel to with my crowd!
 
Aug 9, 2025
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Maybe Walkertown can't compete with Shelby and Lincolnton. But North Stanley hasn't played anyone.
I’ve never seen Walkertown and don’t know much about their football, but I assume they could play with us and it would probably be a 50/50 game. This isn’t one of our best teams. We have a QB that can be hard to handle, an elite LB and a lot of speed. If we play a complete game we can beat anyone, but Shelby is the favorite in 3A for good reason.
 

FootballFan13

Redshirt
Aug 27, 2025
29
17
3
I personally think the 3A East has more depth than the West. Northeastern, Whiteville, Midway, James Kenan, Wallace Rose Hill.... Even a team ranked at #18 like Greene Central is solid.


I do think Shelby will end up winning the State Title.
3A as a whole is insanely deep, you mention the east and I wouldn't hesitate to say last year was an even deeper bracket.
 
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bralpa

Junior
Feb 5, 2003
3,160
383
83
Eastern Randolph is another team that could make some noise. They were GREAT last year and returned virtually everyone. Early season injuries cost them three losses, but they are rolling now and could make a deep playoff run.
 

TheMule1

Junior
Aug 29, 2025
259
382
63
Eastern Randolph is another team that could make some noise. They were GREAT last year and returned virtually everyone. Early season injuries cost them three losses, but they are rolling now and could make a deep playoff run.
Yes. ER is the biggest threat to a Shelby championship this year. Good teams that get healthy are scary good.
 

Shelby Lion

Heisman
Oct 3, 2002
14,561
12,757
113
Walkertown can beat any of these teams including Shelby. Nasir Conrad will be the best player on the field and he can’t be stopped.
Walkertown

Beat a 3-7 Parkland team by 8
Got embarrassed by a West Rowan team that hasnt even been heard of since the Parks days
Beat a 4-6 E Surry 20-0
Should have lost to Reidsville but they were scared to kick an extra point a couple times
Opponents overall record 41-58

Yall aint beating Shelby, you wont even make it to Shelby
 

TheMule1

Junior
Aug 29, 2025
259
382
63
Walkertown

Beat a 3-7 Parkland team by 8
Got embarrassed by a West Rowan team that hasnt even been heard of since the Parks days
Beat a 4-6 E Surry 20-0
Should have lost to Reidsville but they were scared to kick an extra point a couple times
Opponents overall record 41-58

Yall aint beating Shelby, you wont even make it to Shelby
TRUTH.
 
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