3 Underrated Week 6 Matchups

Most of the state is transitioning to the conference schedule, and there are plenty of premier matchups across the state. Here, I want to break down some of the under-the-radar games, some of the matchups that won't capture headlines, but could end up having massive implications.   Which players will make the biggest impacts in some of the cooler games of Week 6? Here are three underrated Week 6 matchups you should pay attention to.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Underrated Week 6 Matchups</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Porter Ridge vs. Charlotte Catholic</h3>   Porter Ridge is 4-1, but I've barely heard a peep from people outside of the immediate area. The Pirates, led by quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1420953' first='Keenan' last='Sullivan'] and versatile running back/receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1600209' first='Raishawn' last='Elmore'], have their sights set on a conference championship and face a strong Charlotte Catholic team at home on Friday.   Charlotte Catholic is one of the better 3-2 teams in the state, with losses only to Weddington and Providence Day. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='1369343' first='Garrett' last='Nowlan'] is in the midst of a rare senior breakout, averaging nearly 150 yards a game and leading the Cougars in scoring.   The Charlotte Catholic front seven needs to have a good game. Army commit [player_tooltip player_id='1368127' first='Dominic' last='Basrawala'] is the headliner in the pass rush, but he'll need to set the edge and eat up blocks against a team that likes to use a bunch of motion to jumpstart the running game. Linebackers <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/keanen-teeter/">Keanen Teeter</a> and Teddy Viello are typically disciplined and gap sound, and they'll need to be to slow down the Pirates' running game.   The same could be said on the flip side, though, as the Porter Ridge defense is built from the pass rush. The Pirates, led by [player_tooltip player_id='1616163' first='Makai' last='Henriquez'] with seven, have 20 sacks as a team, but face a Single-Wing offense predicated on pressuring edge rushers into decisions in the running game.   If it comes down to a close game, Charlotte Catholic has the advantage in the form of [player_tooltip player_id='1706428' first='Aidan' last='Flynn'], one of the top kickers in the state. The Cougars are one of only a handful of teams with true confidence in the kicking game.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Alleghany vs. Starmount</h3>   How about a midseason 2A game with major playoff and conference championship implications? Starmount comes in 3-1 with only a loss to 3A power Mount Airy, while Alleghany is undefeated. Both teams sit in the top four of the 2A class, per our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/north-carolina/team-database/?team_name=&class%5B%5D=2A">Power Scores rankings</a>.   Defensively, both teams have been outstanding. Starmount's [player_tooltip player_id='1908004' first='Corey' last='Armstrong'] has been excellent, with five sacks and 13 tackles for loss, while two-way player [player_tooltip player_id='451403' first='Cody' last='Hernandez'] has been solid at linebacker and as a short-yardage back. Both teams will try to slow the game down and limit possessions, making turnovers and stops crucial.   For Alleghany, dual-threat quarterback John LeMasters has been excellent, scoring seven total touchdowns without a turnover this season. If the Trojans can hold onto the ball Friday, they may have a leg up, with an offense that is just a bit more consistent. Expect a low-scoring slugfest, where the winner could take control of the Mountain Valley Conference.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Asheville School vs. Christ School</h3>   This decades-old rivalry continues on Saturday, and it's an intriguing matchup from a schematic standpoint in addition to the rivalry aspect of the game.   Christ School is led by a quarterback-running back tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='1654254' first='Jackson' last='Tolbert'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1728226' first='Jackson' last='Cancel']. Cancel was one of the leading rushers in NCISAA last season and has improved as a receiver out of the backfield in 2025. Defensively, it runs through middle linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1311681' first='Linkin' last='Stevens'], a big, hulking backer who is a key player on both defense and special teams.   It's a great running back matchup as Asheville School has two top guys in [player_tooltip player_id='1728224' first='Shiloh' last='Mukendi'] and Marvyn Larozar, who have each run for over 400 yards this season. Xander Prosper adds some pass-rushing juice to a defense that has been solid this season.   It's one of the top NCISAA matchups of the year, and I'm glad it's a standalone game on Saturday afternoon.   Who should we preview next week? Let me know on Twitter (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>).

Most of the state is transitioning to the conference schedule, and there are plenty of premier matchups across the state. Here, I want to break down some of the under-the-radar games, some of the matchups that won't capture headlines, but could end up having massive implications.