Cox Mill and Cuthbertson remain unbeaten, Central Cabarrus pulls off a major upset, and the championship picture begins to take shape across North Carolina.
By CLT Media News Sports Desk | October 31, 2026
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — History was made across North Carolina on Saturday as girls flag football entered its first officially sanctioned NCHSAA postseason. With first- and second-round matchups unfolding across the state, teams were competing for much more than another victory. They were chasing the opportunity to become the first state champions in the sport’s history.
The opening day offered nearly everything a postseason could deliver: dominant shutouts, dramatic one-point finishes, unexpected eliminations, and individual performances that reinforced why girls flag football continues to attract attention throughout the state.
In the Charlotte region, unbeaten Cox Mill and Cuthbertson moved one step closer to championship contention. Central Cabarrus delivered one of the area’s most impressive surprises, while Hickory Ridge completed a two-win afternoon that included the elimination of highly regarded West Cabarrus.
Meanwhile, established contenders including Butler, Providence, Palisades, Hough, Holly Springs, Ashley and Wakefield successfully navigated their opening postseason tests.
MaxPreps listed 73 games on its October 31 statewide scoreboard, with 69 showing final scores when reviewed. An additional result was located through local reporting. Several other bracket matchups remained unconfirmed in the available results.
Cox Mill: Allie Berry Leads the Chargers to 19–0
Few teams entered the postseason with more attention than the Cox Mill Chargers.
Ranked third in HighSchoolOT’s final regular-season statewide poll, the Chargers received a first-round bye before facing Rocky River in the second round.
The result was another commanding defensive and offensive performance.
Cox Mill 28, Rocky River 0
Senior quarterback Allie Berry once again provided the offensive spark. According to the MaxPreps game report, Berry completed 9 of 14 passes for 121 yards, two passing touchdowns and no interceptions. She added 30 rushing yards and another touchdown on three carries.
Cox Mill’s defense was equally impressive. Mazari Little recorded four sacks, helping the Chargers prevent Rocky River from scoring.
E. Fortin also contributed three receptions for 43 yards.
The Chargers built a 14–0 advantage in the first quarter and carried a 21–0 lead into halftime before adding another touchdown in the third quarter.
The victory improved Cox Mill to 19–0 and extended its undefeated season.
With every game now carrying championship implications, the Chargers have established themselves as one of the leading contenders in the 7A field.
Next comes a meeting with Ballantyne Ridge, which defeated R.J. Reynolds 32–18 in the second round.
Cuthbertson: Ella Miller Throws Five Touchdowns as Cavaliers Stay Perfect
Another undefeated program continued making its presence felt in Waxhaw.
Cuthbertson, which entered the playoffs ranked fifth statewide by HighSchoolOT, defeated Lake Norman 41–12 in second-round action after receiving an opening-round bye.
The Cavaliers improved to 12–0 behind an exceptional performance from sophomore quarterback Ella Miller.
Miller completed 17 of 26 passes for 214 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. She also rushed seven times for 52 yards and a touchdown, accounting for six total scores.
Senior receiver Serena Eckert produced an outstanding performance, catching four passes for 89 yards and three touchdowns.
Cuthbertson also features junior wide receiver and defensive back Lilly Cook, one of the Cavaliers’ most productive athletes this season. A MaxPreps team-profile snapshot entering the weekend listed Cook with 22 total touchdowns and a team-leading 66.5 receiving yards per game. Those are season statistics, not a verified October 31 individual box score.
The Cavaliers now face a potentially difficult third-round matchup with Weddington, which survived Southwest Guilford 8–7.
Weddington’s victory was its lowest-scoring offensive performance of the season, according to MaxPreps, but the Warriors found enough to advance.
Cuthbertson’s explosive offense against Weddington’s ability to survive close games creates one of the more intriguing upcoming matchups in the 7A West bracket.
Central Cabarrus Authors One of the Day’s Biggest Surprises
If one team in Cabarrus County significantly improved its championship outlook on Saturday, Central Cabarrus deserves serious consideration.
The Vikings entered the postseason with a losing record but emerged from the opening two rounds with victories over Jay M. Robinson and Mount Pleasant.
In the first round, Central Cabarrus defeated Jay M. Robinson 31–6, producing its highest-scoring performance of the season.
The Vikings then faced Mount Pleasant, a team entering the matchup with a 12–2 record and a six-game winning streak.
Central Cabarrus responded with a 7–0 shutout.
The magnitude of the result becomes clearer when examining MaxPreps’ rankings. Central Cabarrus was ranked No. 86 statewide, while Mount Pleasant entered at No. 29.
The Tigers had scored at least 31 points in each of their previous three outings, but Central Cabarrus prevented them from reaching the end zone.
Across both playoff games, the Vikings allowed only six total points.
Central Cabarrus improved to 9–9 and advanced to the third round, where East Rowan awaits.
For a team that entered the postseason without the record of some of the state’s favorites, Saturday demonstrated how dramatically the playoff picture can change in just a few hours.
Hickory Ridge Eliminates West Cabarrus
Hickory Ridge delivered another significant result in the 7A West bracket.
The Bulls opened Saturday with a 35–8 win over Marvin Ridge before facing West Cabarrus, one of the region’s stronger regular-season programs.
Hickory Ridge secured an 18–8 victory in the second round, ending West Cabarrus’ season at 14–3.
The Bulls improved to 11–7, according to MaxPreps, while extending their winning streak to four games.
Although verified player-by-player statistics for Saturday’s victories were limited, MaxPreps’ team reporting identifies freshman quarterback Ella Phinney, sophomore receiver Ashlynn Green, and defensive contributors Malanie Sharp and Ava McCullough as notable figures for Hickory Ridge.
The outcome was one of the more consequential second-round results in the Charlotte area, eliminating a team that had been ranked 16th statewide in HighSchoolOT’s final regular-season poll.
Other Charlotte-Area Contenders Move Forward
Butler, Providence, Palisades, Hough, West Charlotte and Ballantyne Ridge each strengthened their postseason position.
Butler defeated Independence 32–12, extending its winning streak to 13 games. Independence had advanced earlier in the day by beating Reagan 24–7.
Independence’s first-round win included scoring contributions from Zari Gilmore, Gabi Hunter, Nia Springs and Deoni Thompson. MaxPreps reported five team interceptions, credited collectively to Gilmore and Springs, with Gilmore returning one interception for a touchdown.
Providence defeated Chambers 41–13, improving to 15–2 after Chambers had survived Ardrey Kell 15–14 in the first round.
Palisades defeated Apex Friendship 42–6, improving to 14–2. Apex Friendship had advanced through a 7–6 first-round win over Myers Park.
Hough defeated Pinecrest 45–26, extending its winning streak to 12 games. Pinecrest had opened its postseason with a 6–0 victory over Mallard Creek.
West Charlotte defeated Hoke County 13–6, after Hoke County escaped East Mecklenburg 14–13 in the first round.
Ballantyne Ridge defeated R.J. Reynolds 32–18, setting up its next matchup against unbeaten Cox Mill.
Elsewhere, Northwest Cabarrus narrowly defeated Piedmont 13–12 before falling to Rockingham County 20–12. Salisbury opened with a 46–8 victory over Northern Guilford but was eliminated by Watauga 20–14.
Sun Valley dominated Ragsdale 41–0 in the first round before losing to West Henderson 18–13, ending an eight-game winning streak.
Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology advanced with victories over Olympic, 13–2, and Brevard, 12–6.
8A: Wakefield Survives, Apex Wins a Thriller
The 8A bracket produced several dramatic moments.
Wakefield entered the playoffs ranked No. 1 statewide in HighSchoolOT’s final regular-season rankings and faced a competitive second-round challenge from Hoggard.
Wakefield prevailed 20–13, improving to 18–1 and preserving its championship pursuit.
Hoggard had defeated Panther Creek 30–0 earlier in the day before its season ended against the Wolverines.
Another major 8A result came when Apex narrowly defeated Leesville Road 26–25.
Apex’s Lucy Nelson threw for 99 yards and two touchdowns while also recording 41 receiving yards. Rosemary Grant intercepted two passes to help the Cougars secure the one-point victory.
Apex will meet Green Hope, which defeated Laney 33–0.
Willow Spring advanced with a 32–0 shutout of Corinth Holders, setting up its next matchup with Wakefield.
In the 8A West, Providence, West Charlotte, Hough and Palisades remain alive, creating a highly competitive path toward the regional final.
7A East: Ashley and Holly Springs Deliver Shutouts
Two of the state’s most formidable programs were particularly dominant in the 7A East.
Ashley defeated Cleveland 57–0, while Holly Springs eliminated Southeast Raleigh 48–0.
Holly Springs quarterback Ella Suciu threw for 169 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. Receiver Adaora Mogbo recorded 75 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
MaxPreps also described Holly Springs as undefeated following the result.
Other second-round winners included South Garner, Riverside-Durham, Fuquay-Varina, Cardinal Gibbons and Southern School of Energy and Sustainability.
Several of those programs advanced with strong defensive showings, including South Garner’s 27–0 shutout of East Wake and Fuquay-Varina’s 19–0 win over Wake Forest.
1A–6A: Defensive Battles and Unexpected Results Reshape the Bracket
In the combined 1A–6A classification, multiple favorites received difficult challenges.
Eastern Guilford dominated Vance Charter 41–0, Southern Nash defeated Williams 48–6, and Northwood advanced with a 27–18 victory over Union Pines.
Rocky Mount secured a 33–24 victory over Southeast Alamance after defeating Jordan-Matthews earlier in the day.
Roxboro Community defeated Middle Creek 25–13, while Pamlico County held off Wake Preparatory Academy 13–12.
On the western side, Central Cabarrus’ 7–0 victory over Mount Pleasant ranked among the day’s most notable shutouts. East Rowan advanced past Smoky Mountain 30–14, Watauga defeated Salisbury 20–14, and West Henderson survived Sun Valley 18–13.
The combined classification appears particularly unpredictable because of the mix of schools, contrasting regular-season records, and numerous closely contested early-round games.
Standout Performers From Opening Weekend
Several individual performances were documented in MaxPreps reports:
Player
School
Reported playoff performance
Allie Berry
Cox Mill
121 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 30 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
Mazari Little
Cox Mill
4 sacks
E. Fortin
Cox Mill
3 receptions, 43 yards
Ella Miller
Cuthbertson
214 passing yards, 5 passing TDs, 52 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
Serena Eckert
Cuthbertson
4 receptions, 89 yards, 3 receiving TDs
Ella Suciu
Holly Springs
169 passing yards, 3 passing TDs
Adaora Mogbo
Holly Springs
75 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs
Lucy Nelson
Apex
99 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 41 receiving yards
Rosemary Grant
Apex
2 interceptions
Zari Gilmore
Independence
Interception-return touchdown among reported contributions
These figures represent individual October 31 game reports. Statistics were not available for every postseason matchup.
The Road Ahead
The next two rounds of the NCHSAA girls flag football playoffs are scheduled for November 7, with regional championships on November 11.
Several anticipated third-round matchups include:
7A West: Cox Mill vs. Ballantyne Ridge; Cuthbertson vs. Weddington; Butler vs. Davie County.
8A East: Wakefield vs. Willow Spring; Green Hope vs. Apex.
8A West: Providence vs. West Charlotte; Hough vs. Palisades.
1A–6A West: Central Cabarrus vs. East Rowan; Watauga vs. Rockingham County; West Henderson vs. Mount Tabor.
Additional matchups depend on scores that were not fully verified at the time of publication.
The state championship games will be held November 14 at Helen & Leonard Moretz Stadium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University.
For the athletes competing in North Carolina’s inaugural sanctioned postseason, the opportunity goes beyond winning a trophy. Each program is helping establish a new chapter in the state’s high school sports history.
The opening weekend showed that undefeated records provide momentum, but no guarantee of success. Strong defenses, emerging stars, and determined underdogs have already changed the postseason landscape.
Only a handful of teams will eventually reach the championship stage.
The opportunity to become the first state champion remains within reach.
CLT Media News will continue covering the historic NCHSAA girls flag football postseason, including regional matchups, standout performers, and the road to the inaugural state championships.
Statewide Playoff Results Ledger
Reported results from October 31, 2026. Scores are organized by round and classification. A small number of matchups have incomplete or conflicting public reports.
8A — First Round
East: Laney 18, Millbrook 6; Leesville Road 19, Green Level 0; Corinth Holders 18, Broughton 8; Hoggard 30, Panther Creek 0.
West: Chambers 15, Ardrey Kell 14; Hoke County 14, East Mecklenburg 13; Pinecrest 6, Mallard Creek 0; Apex Friendship 7, Myers Park 6.
8A — Second Round
East: Green Hope 33, Laney 0; Apex 26, Leesville Road 25; Willow Spring 32, Corinth Holders 0; Wakefield 20, Hoggard 13.
West: Providence 41, Chambers 13; West Charlotte 13, Hoke County 6; Hough 45, Pinecrest 26; Palisades 42, Apex Friendship 6.
7A — First Round
East: Cleveland 20, Knightdale 6; East Wake 20, New Bern 0; New Hanover 27, Clayton 6; Cary 14, Sanderson 0; Wake Forest 72, Smithfield-Selma 0; Southeast Raleigh 18, Hillside 6.
West: Lake Norman 20, Page 6; Hickory Ridge 35, Marvin Ridge 8; Independence 24, Reagan 7; Mooresville 27, A.L. Brown 0; Rocky River 24, West Mecklenburg 12.
7A — Second Round
East: Ashley 57, Cleveland 0; South Garner 27, East Wake 0; Southern School of Energy and Sustainability 12, New Hanover 6; Cardinal Gibbons 40, North Brunswick 14; Riverside-Durham 34, Cary 6; Fuquay-Varina 19, Wake Forest 0; Holly Springs 48, Southeast Raleigh 0.
West: Cuthbertson 41, Lake Norman 12; Weddington 8, Southwest Guilford 7; Hickory Ridge 18, West Cabarrus 8; Butler 32, Independence 12; Davie County 19, Mooresville 6; Ballantyne Ridge 32, R.J. Reynolds 18; Cox Mill 28, Rocky River 0.
1A–6A — First Round
East: Vance Charter 7, Northside-Jacksonville 6; Vance County 38, Hunt 0; Wake Preparatory Academy 1, Northern Nash 0 (reported administrative-style score, subject to confirmation); Williams 19, Franklinton 18; Middle Creek 38, Seaforth 12; Rocky Mount 43, Jordan-Matthews 18 (score discrepancy noted below); Felton Grove 13, Southern Lee 12; Union Pines 33, South Johnston 13.
West: Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology 13, Olympic 2; Salisbury 46, Northern Guilford 8; Northwest Cabarrus 13, Piedmont 12; Smoky Mountain 18, Reidsville 2; Central Cabarrus 31, Jay M. Robinson 6; Sun Valley 41, Ragsdale 0; Asheboro 13, North Forsyth 6 (reported by SportsTone).
1A–6A — Second Round
East: Eastern Guilford 41, Vance Charter 0; Vance County 8, Wilson Prep Academy 0; Pamlico County 13, Wake Preparatory Academy 12; Southern Nash 48, Williams 6; Roxboro Community 25, Middle Creek 13; Rocky Mount 33, Southeast Alamance 24; Northwood 27, Union Pines 18.
West: Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology 12, Brevard 6; Watauga 20, Salisbury 14; Rockingham County 20, Northwest Cabarrus 12; East Rowan 30, Smoky Mountain 14; Central Cabarrus 7, Mount Pleasant 0; West Henderson 18, Sun Valley 13; Mount Tabor 25, Asheboro 0.
Editorial Verification Notes
The following matchups did not have a fully verified final score in the checked sources: North Mecklenburg vs. Hopewell, Overhills vs. North Brunswick, Garner vs. Heritage, High Point Central vs. Union Academy, the subsequent Carver matchup, Felton Grove vs. Northside-Pinetown, and the second-round game involving Grimsley.
MaxPreps’ statewide scoreboard reported Rocky Mount defeating Jordan-Matthews 43–18, while a separate automated MaxPreps recap listed 38–18. The official result should be verified before publishing a definitive score graphic for that game.
The listed Wake Preparatory Academy 1–0 Northern Nash result also requires confirmation before assigning a game narrative.
Principal reporting sources: MaxPreps October 31 statewide scoreboard, NCHSAA official flag football championship hub, HighSchoolOT live playoff brackets, individual MaxPreps game reports, and local reporting from SportsTone.
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