Who’s Got the Edge: 3A/4A West Conference

Last season, throughout the ups and the downs, North Carolina's 3A/4A West Conference had some of the best, and most competitive football games, and teams that the state had to offer. This fact alone meant that the level of football that fans got to watch was not only one of a kind, but it entailed some of the more talented prospects that fans throughout North Carolina could get to see. Regardless of the success of last year's teams, we believe that the competition this upcoming season will be stiff once again, and that it will be very interesting to see who can beat their competition, and make a run at the playoffs. Hough While Hough won the region last year, and they are returning highly talented players, including the likes of their starting QB, [player_tooltip player_id='44970' first='Tad' last='Hudson'], we believe that there is a very good chance that they come in 2nd place in their region this year. Even though we feel that they will be as motivated as ever due to their playoff loss to Chambers, we feel they have plenty of work to do across the board to match up well enough to beat their rival. To help them, players such as [player_tooltip player_id='117961' first='Nolan' last='Hauser'], JT Smith, [player_tooltip player_id='371448' first='Branden' last='Palmer'], and Sequan Osborne will also be returning, and we fully expect them to have a successful year as well. Chambers It can be said that Chambers not only has one of the most well rounded rosters, but that they have one of the more developed rosters when it comes to talent. To start, not only are they returning their starting RB, [player_tooltip player_id='44973' first='Daylan' last='Smothers'], but they also have key defensive players in Torren Wright, Xavier Marshall, and Ryan Richardson who will be returning. Last season alone, their program finished with a 5-1 record in their region, with their only loss coming to Hough. Lucky enough for them, they matched back up with them in the playoffs, and gave them their playoff ending loss, before going on to lose to Cardinal Gibbons. Not only did Chambers play a more efficient football game, but we feel their talent also contributed with the end result. Next season, they are our favorite to win the region. North Mecklenburg Just like last season, we feel that North Mecklenburg has a good chance at finishing this upcoming season with a 3rd place finish in their region. This is largely due to the fact that Chambers, and Hough are practically top heavy schools, and because North Mecklenburg has its fair share of talented players, but it will not quite be enough to overcome their divisional rivals and giants. Nevertheless, we still feel they will have to compete for this 3rd place spot with Mallard Creek, as they have their fair share of returning players as well. Players to be on the watch for when it comes to their program include the likes of Ethan Sellers, Rey'Noi Summersett, Drew McCormick, and Jae'Wan McRae. Mallard Creek Just as we mentioned above, Mallard Creek, just like North Mecklenburg, are also known to consistently coach, and develop high levels of talent. In recent years, while they have still shown out against some of their competition, it has been hard to overcome the giants in their region, including that of Chambers and Hough. Nevertheless, they still finish up with solid seasons, and find ways to compete for the 3rd spot in the region (at worst). This upcoming season, it will be interesting to see how far they can go with their talent. They will be witnessing the return of players such as [player_tooltip player_id='307823' first='Michael' last='Short'], [player_tooltip player_id='131672' first='Justin' last='Wheeler'], and Darren James-Hamilton. This consistency should ultimately go a long way when producing any kind of offensive, or defensive success. West Mecklenburg This upcoming year, West Mecklenburg will be looking to improve upon its overall performance last year, including their 5th place regional finish, and their 6-5 record. Not only do we feel this is possible, but we believe that they can have a bit of a better season than most fans will give them credit for. To start, they will be returning some pretty talented players on both sides of the ball, and we fully expect them to be able to build upon this talent, and create more opportunities to make plays, and defeat some of their competition. While we are not completely sold on their ability to finish the season with an incredible record, we do believe that they are talented enough to finish middle of the pack in their region. Hopewell Last season, Hopewell may not have finished up with the best record, but they still found ways to win 2 games, including 1 regional game. While this will not be enough to win, or compete within the region, we do believe that any returning players can produce some kind of continuity, and can ultimately contribute to a better result in regional record, and overall record by the end of the year. Next season, outside of more regional wins, a record of .500 would be a reasonable goal for the program. West Charlotte While we do believe that West Charlotte has plenty of better games, and more success ahead of them, we unfortunately do not believe that the steps they will take forward next year will be quite enough to overcome the likes of Hough, Chambers, and North Mecklenburg. Even though they have a few talented returning players, we do not feel it will stack up against the long line of talented teams ahead of them in their own division.

Last season, throughout the ups and the downs, North Carolina's 3A/4A West Conference had some of the best, and most competitive football games, and teams that the state had to offer. This fact alone meant that the level of football that fans got to watch was not only one of a kind, but it entailed some of the more talented prospects that fans throughout North Carolina could get to see. Regardless of the success of last year's teams, we believe that the competition this upcoming season will be stiff once again, and that it will be very interesting to see who can beat their competition, and make a run at the playoffs.
Hough
While Hough won the region last year, and they are returning highly talented players, including the likes of their starting QB, Tad Hudson Tad Hudson 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB William A. Hough | 2023 State NC , we believe that there is a very good chance that they come in 2nd place in their region this year. Even though we feel that they will be as motivated as ever due to their playoff loss to Chambers, we feel they have plenty of work to do across the board to match up well enough to beat their rival. To help them, players such as Nolan Hauser Nolan Hauser 6'1" | 180 lbs | K William A. Hough | 2024 State NC , JT Smith, Branden Palmer Branden Palmer 6'4" | 205 lbs | DL William A. Hough | 2023 State NC , and Sequan Osborne will also be returning, and we fully expect them to have a successful year as well.
Chambers
It can be said that Chambers not only has one of the most well rounded rosters, but that they have one of the more developed rosters when it comes to talent. To start, not only are they returning their starting RB, Daylan Smothers Daylan Smothers 6'0" | 185 lbs | RB West Charlotte | 2023 NC , but they also have key defensive players in Torren Wright, Xavier Marshall, and Ryan Richardson who will be returning. Last season alone, their program finished with a 5-1 record in their region, with their only loss coming to Hough. Lucky enough for them, they matched back up with them in the playoffs, and gave them their playoff ending loss, before going on to lose to Cardinal Gibbons. Not only did Chambers play a more efficient football game, but we feel their talent also contributed with the end result. Next season, they are our favorite to win the region.
North Mecklenburg
Just like last season, we feel that North Mecklenburg has a good chance at finishing this upcoming season with a 3rd place finish in their region. This is largely due to the fact that Chambers, and Hough are practically top heavy schools, and because North Mecklenburg has its fair share of talented players, but it will not quite be enough to overcome their divisional rivals and giants. Nevertheless, we still feel they will have to compete for this 3rd place spot with Mallard Creek, as they have their fair share of returning players as well. Players to be on the watch for when it comes to their program include the likes of Ethan Sellers, Rey'Noi Summersett, Drew McCormick, and Jae'Wan McRae.
Mallard Creek
Just as we mentioned above, Mallard Creek, just like North Mecklenburg, are also known to consistently coach, and develop high levels of talent. In recent years, while they have still shown out against some of their competition, it has been hard to overcome the giants in their region, including that of Chambers and Hough. Nevertheless, they still finish up with solid seasons, and find ways to compete for the 3rd spot in the region (at worst). This upcoming season, it will be interesting to see how far they can go with their talent. They will be witnessing the return of players such as Michael Short Michael Short 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Mallard Creek | 2023 State NC , Justin Wheeler Justin Wheeler 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Charlotte Latin | 2023 State NC , and Darren James-Hamilton. This consistency should ultimately go a long way when producing any kind of offensive, or defensive success.
West Mecklenburg
This upcoming year, West Mecklenburg will be looking to improve upon its overall performance last year, including their 5th place regional finish, and their 6-5 record. Not only do we feel this is possible, but we believe that they can have a bit of a better season than most fans will give them credit for. To start, they will be returning some pretty talented players on both sides of the ball, and we fully expect them to be able to build upon this talent, and create more opportunities to make plays, and defeat some of their competition. While we are not completely sold on their ability to finish the season with an incredible record, we do believe that they are talented enough to finish middle of the pack in their region.
Hopewell
Last season, Hopewell may not have finished up with the best record, but they still found ways to win 2 games, including 1 regional game. While this will not be enough to win, or compete within the region, we do believe that any returning players can produce some kind of continuity, and can ultimately contribute to a better result in regional record, and overall record by the end of the year. Next season, outside of more regional wins, a record of .500 would be a reasonable goal for the program.
West Charlotte
While we do believe that West Charlotte has plenty of better games, and more success ahead of them, we unfortunately do not believe that the steps they will take forward next year will be quite enough to overcome the likes of Hough, Chambers, and North Mecklenburg. Even though they have a few talented returning players, we do not feel it will stack up against the long line of talented teams ahead of them in their own division.