3 Cross-Classification Matchups To Watch: Week 2

We're continuing our preview coverage this week by looking at some non-conference matchups between teams from different classifications. This year, it seems that teams are branching out and playing riskier--and more intriguing--non-conference matchups, perhaps an unintended benefit of the eight-class system.   Friday has a ton of huge games, so here I'm briefly previewing three that bridge classes. I'm prioritizing games that have the chance to be great, despite the differences in the size of the schools. Here are my top three cross-classification matchups to watch.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cross-Classification Matchups To Watch</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Providence Day (NCISAA) @ Rolesville (8A)</h3>   The biggest game of the week features our top NCISAA team and a team at or near the top of the 8A class.   Rolesville is coming off a road loss to Mallard Creek, and returns home hoping to get back to .500, with no plans of losing the rest of the way. [player_tooltip player_id='771299' first='Kaleb' last='Williams'] was uncharacteristically loose with the ball last week, and I have no doubts that was an exception and not the norm, after he threw just five picks last season. Still, receivers [player_tooltip player_id='832437' first='Gavin' last='Waddell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1222913' first='Anthony' last='Roberts'] hit some big plays, and tight ends [player_tooltip player_id='832422' first='Davis' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1616145' first='Henry' last='Evans'] looked solid as well. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='378957' first='Amir' last='Brown'] is one of the best in the state and should be expected to bounce back after Mallard Creek's defense held him somewhat in check.   The key matchup here is how Rolesville's offensive line performs against an elite front. Providence Day's back end is one of the only secondaries that can play match coverage against Rolesville's elite receiving corps, but if Williams has time, he'll still pick that group apart, given the absurd level of receiving talent on the Rams' roster. We love [player_tooltip player_id='1608315' first='Moses' last='Poku-Kankam'], [player_tooltip player_id='1610603' first='Tre' last='Geathers'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1239187' first='Caleb' last='Cooper'], but even they could give up a big play or two to the Rolesville deep threats. It'll be up to a defensive line, led by [player_tooltip player_id='1029786' first='Griff' last='Galloway'], [player_tooltip player_id='1707785' first='Hudson' last='Clavin'], and [player_tooltip player_id='496368' first='Charles' last='Ibe'], to generate pressure and create havoc.   Providence Day has an X-factor who could turn the tide. In a loaded receiving room, [player_tooltip player_id='1150380' first='Steele' last='Fletcher'] can become the forgotten man. Last week, though, he was a menace on kick returns, housing one and averaging nearly 40 yards a pop on returns he didn't score on.   In a game where field position matters, that's huge.   While I'm more interested in admiring some incredible matchups, I'll go ahead and predict the Chargers to win in a fun one, something many could consider an upset.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wilson Prep (1A) @ West Craven (4A)</h3>   Don't look now, but West Craven just pulled off one of the bigger upsets of the week (on paper) on the strength of a unit that was well below average last week. The Eagles shut out powerhouse Havelock after allowing over 30 points a game last season.   The offense only scored seven, but does anyone really think that unit won't get going? [player_tooltip player_id='948088' first='DJ' last='Davis'] struggled some to move the ball through the air against a tough Havelock defense, but found some running room late. Expect him to have a bit more success as the year goes on, as the Eagles won't face that caliber of defense often this year.   Transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1453966' first='Michael' last='Wilson'] might be the biggest story for West Craven. The two-way player had a big catch on offense and a key interception on defense for the Eagles to prevent a Havelock score in the red zone last week.   Edge rusher [player_tooltip player_id='1699333' first='Emmanuel' last='Miller'] is a guy we like a lot, and he was one of two players with a sack in Week 1 for West Craven. A pass rush would be a significant development for a team that really struggled in that department last season.   Wilson Prep dropped a Week 1 game to 7A powerhouse Clayton, but won multiple scrimmages over larger schools in the preseason. Senior athlete Naziar Vines struggled to get going offensively last week, but he's on our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/1a-player-of-the-year-candidates-season-prediction/">1A Player of the Year Shortlist</a> and should have a big season and should get going soon. It was a lot of Travon Usher Friday as the dual-threat had a productive day on the ground. The traditional ground game should bounce back against teams closer to their classification.   I'm intrigued to see how [player_tooltip player_id='1659584' first='Reginald' last='Holmes'] plays against this level of competition, as the two-way lineman had a sack and a decent offensive game last week against elite lines.   I'm genuinely curious about how this one will go. It should give us another datapoint to judge West Craven by, and a win for the Eagles would be huge, even over a 1A squad, because this 1A squad is different than most others.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">East Forsyth (7A) @ Northern Guilford (6A)</h3>   Two teams coming off two very different wins clash in the Triad. East Forsyth made quick work of an overmatched Glenn team, 31-0, while Northern Guilford gave 4A Reidsville its first regular-season home loss in nearly five years, 47-38.   It should come as no surprise that JD Fulp and [player_tooltip player_id='1070820' first='Jaire' last='Richburg'] connected three times for touchdowns last week for East Forsyth, nor that [player_tooltip player_id='711397' first='Adrian' last='Solomon Jr']. had a massive game defensively, with 16 tackles and a sack. [player_tooltip player_id='1671991' first='Omaryon' last='Hayes'] added a sack, and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1393949' first='Zion' last='Dobson'] was solid in coverage. The offense was balanced, with three rushers over 80 yards and 545 total yards on the day.   Northern Guilford's win was anything but straightforward. The Nighthawks scored 47 points on just 330 yards and had only one play over 30 yards all night. Quarterback Jaxon Kemp and running back [player_tooltip player_id='1301239' first='Amare' last='Akers'] combined for 211 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, while Kemp added just under 100 yards through the air.   Chance Crews played exceptionally well off the edge, with 15 total tackles, including four for loss, while Grayson Council contributed in all three phases of the game.   The matchup to watch on Friday is Richburg against Northern Guilford's stout secondary, led by [player_tooltip player_id='1671837' first='Bobby' last='Bah']. Last week, the Nighthawks blanketed the best tight end in the state, but Reidsville found room with some of its secondary options. Who steps up for East Forysth?   Give me the Eagles in a close one, as we should learn a lot about both of these teams on Friday.   Who else should we watch for on Friday? Let me know on Twitter (@<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">whelms21</a>).

We're continuing our preview coverage this week by looking at some non-conference matchups between teams from different classifications. This year, it seems that teams are branching out and playing riskier--and more intriguing--non-conference matchups, perhaps an unintended benefit of the eight-class system.