Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football regular season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15.

CHAPEL HILL – Wells Fargo, along with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, today announced the final standings in the Wells Fargo Cup competitions for the 2011-12 academic year.

We’ve reached Round 2 of the state football playoffs, and it’s time for some great football action.  The temperatures are dropping towards the freezing mark and while many of the linemen show their toughness by playing without sleeves, the fans are bundling up in the stands.  Be sure go out and support your local team this Friday night.

WAXHAW – If there’s one thing that playoff football does, it’s bringing the best out of teams.  Tonight’s game at Marvin Ridge was an clear example of this principle.  The Mavericks were able to take down the visiting Berry Cardinals with a total effort on offense and defense.  By the end of the night, the scoreboard read 31-12 in favor of the home team and the Mavericks were on their way to the second round of the 3AA Midwest playoffs.



The second quarter was a match of defensive stands by both teams.  Every time one team would find a way to get a first down, the other would come back with a big defensive stop.  Trying to find some momentum, each team decided to go for it on fourth down in the second quarter but both were stopped.  The turning point in the second quarter was when the Mavericks’ Cameron Pittman made a big interception late in the half and returned it into Berry territory.  A mix of runs and passes got Marvin Ridge inside the 10 with 0.2 seconds left, and Tyler Cochran kicked a field goal giving the Mavericks a 10-6 halftime lead.


The fourth quarter began with a 9 yard touchdown run by Derek Smith, giving Marvin Ridge a 24-6 lead.  Berry tried to get back in the game with a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, but a long pass from Chadwick to a wide open Taylor Capoziello for 73 yards and a score put the final nail in the coffin.

Asked about his team’s effort in the first round of the playoffs, Marvin Ridge head coach Scott Chadwick, “I’ve never been so proud of a group of guys in all my years of coaching.  They’ve defied every bit of expectation that has been placed on them this year.  Others said this would be a rebuilding year has been our best season in our school’s history.

On Joey Sanguine, who stepped in after the starting running back was ruled out with a concussion and ran for 172 yards on 20 carries: “You can’t say enough about him…I thought he came in and ran the ball extremely hard.  We’re not really known for our running game, but we had some great line play tonight and controlled the line of scrimmage.”

Next week, Marvin Ridge travels to Charlotte Catholic for second round playoff action in the 3AA Midwest.

Check back with Carolina Gridiron for more information on the NCHSAA playoffs and information about future games of the week.

It’s playoff time in North Carolina.  Teams who can put together the complete effort will move on, while other teams will be getting ready for basketball season.  The brackets are set, the teams and fans are excited, and it’s time to win or go home.  Be sure to go out and support your local team this Friday night.

Carolina Gridiron Game of the Week

This week’s matchup is from the most brutal of all of the pods, the 3AA Midwest.  Four of the top five seeds in the western region are located in the Midwest.  The top four teams in the Midwest went a combined 39-2 during the regular season.  The games in the Midwest are sure to be some great matchups between great teams.  This week’s game is just that.  The Carolina Gridiron Game of the Week for Week 12 features the 7-3 Berry Academy Cardinals traveling to Waxhaw to take on the 9-1 Marvin Ridge Mavericks.



Marvin Ridge is only it its fifth year of existence, but they have made the playoffs every season.  Coach Scott Chadwick’s Mavericks have averaged 9 wins a season over the last three years.  This year’s Mavericks team was not expected to have as much success, having to replace 18 starters from last year’s playoff team.  But, the Mavericks have worked together as a team on a mission this year.  The Mavericks have “exceeded expectations this year…both individually and as a team” according to Coach Chadwick.

The lights shined bright and the air was crisp as the Porter Ridge Pirates took on the Marvin Ridge Mavericks in a matchup of 5-0 teams.  Both teams sought to use this week’s game as a springboard to the conference lead.  But, only one team emerged victorious, and tonight it was the Pirates as they defeated the Mavericks 27-3 in Southern Carolina 3A/4A action.












Porter Ridge faces off against Parkwood next week while Marvin Ridge hosts Sun Valley in conference action.

It’s week 7 in the high school football season and most schools are fighting it out in their conference for future playoff berths.  Coaches are looking for leadership to emerge, and players are beginning to play each game with more intensity.  We’re getting to the point now where some rivalry games are beginning to be played.  Be sure to go out and support your local team this Friday night.






The Mavericks, coached by Scott Chadwick, are even stingier on defense than their counterparts, allowing only an average of 14.8 points per game.  For a team that lost 18 starters from last season, Marvin Ridge has also played with a chip on their shoulders and has started 5-0 for the third season in a row.  Strong line play and experience at the skill positions, led by quarterback Tyler Chadwick, has fueled this fast start.