7A Midseason Check-In: Teams, Storylines To Watch

As some teams enter conference play and others conclude the non-conference season, a lot has changed from the preseason, but not everything. Here, I'm looking back at our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/prep-redzone-nc-preseason-7a-all-state-team/">preseason 7A All-State Team</a> and predictions to see what we've gotten right and what we've gotten wrong. Plus, I'm looking ahead to conference play, giving fans an idea of who they should pay attention to down the stretch.   Here's our 7A Midseason Check-In.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">7A Midseason Check-In</h2>   Just recently, we dropped our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/north-carolina/team-database/?team_name=&class%5B%5D=7A">Power Scores</a>, an independent algorithm-based ranking of the teams across the state. We as scouts don't touch these, meaning we're free to <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/09/analysts-take-what-power-scores-has-right-and-wrong-in-week-5/">agree or disagree with them</a> as we wish. They do a great job of anchoring us and giving us an idea of which teams might be near the top.   However, when I refer to any rankings, unless otherwise specified, I'll use my own opinion.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stock Up</h3>   Cary Imps: Cary isn't a traditional football power. In fact, the Imps haven't had a winning season since 2011, and haven't even reached five wins since 2012. This year, though, the Imps are off to a hot start, and Power Scores love them, ranking them fourth. The defense has played well, allowing under 14 points a game. The schedule gets substantially harder, but it's good to see Cary playing well, and the Imps have a chance to put up a historic season before a brutal finish to the season.   Quarterback Nick Grena and running back Tony Stephens have formed quite the 1-2 punch in the running game, leading a ground attack that is averaging almost 250 yards a game. Defensively, junior [player_tooltip player_id='1895609' first='Jacob' last='Spinks'] is leading a talented secondary that is limiting the effectiveness of the passing game. It's great to see the Imps having a strong season.   RJ Reynolds Demons: I can at least say I'm not as surprised by Reynolds' strong start. In my <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/predicting-every-teams-mvp-central-piedmont-7a-8a/">Central Piedmont 7A/8A conference preview</a>, I mentioned that the defense should be improved if the offense could survive losing a few playmakers. Antonio Samuels stepped up as a true top-caliber running back, while [player_tooltip player_id='1101229' first='Brandon' last='Bell II'] has become a red zone weapon that the Demons missed last year. [player_tooltip player_id='1707515' first='DeAndre' last='Charles'] is focused solely on defense this year, and that's helped, as he's forced three turnovers from the secondary.   The schedule gets harder (The Central Piedmont 7A/8A conference has three of the top 17 7A teams, per Power Scores, plus the No. 7 8A team), but the Demons are off to a fast start.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">What To Watch as Conference Play Begins</h3>   Surprise Contender? I intentionally left the Garner Trojans out of the "Stock Up" section because I expected them to play well. Still, they've exceeded even my high expectations. [player_tooltip player_id='1625015' first='Christian' last='Ormandy'], [player_tooltip player_id='1656365' first='Tayden' last='McPhatter'], and company have played at a high level. However, the schedule is brutal. I've long sung the praises of the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/predicting-every-teams-mip-greater-neuse-river-7a-conference/">Greater Neuse River 7A Conference</a>, a conference that looks like it could get five teams in the playoffs.   Half of Garner's remaining games are against teams that are either undefeated or have a single loss to a top 10 team. Can Garner win one of those three and sweep the remaining three to get to 7-3? The Trojans won't have the ability to sneak up on anyone in the playoffs, as they're already turning heads.   Can Cleveland finish the job? Admittedly, we won't know this until playoff time. The Rams hold the state's longest regular-season winning streak at 57 games (by my count), but haven't converted that into a state championship. Most of the teams that beat Cleveland in the playoffs over the last five years, however, are now in 8A, with one key exception: new conference foe Cardinal Gibbons.   This might be the best team the Rams have had in that time. Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1665459' first='Krisjon' last='Clark'] gives them a playmaker who can win one-on-one, and [player_tooltip player_id='1669834' first='Donovan' last='Hicks'] gives them an offensive lineman who can move bigger defenders. I'm not sure yet if they're my pick to win the title, but they're certainly a favorite to make a run.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top 10 7A Teams</h2>   Since Matt Morrow wrote our preseason 7A piece, this is my first top 10 list. Here's my current top 10 as we approach the halfway mark of the season.   1. Cardinal Gibbons   2. Grimsley   3. Cleveland   4. Weddington   5. Independence   6. Southeast Raleigh   7. Clayton   8. Garner   9. East Forsyth   10. New Bern   We'll have in-depth coverage of the 7A classification this season. To cover the entire state, we need your help. Send me stats, film, and updates on Twitter (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>).

As some teams enter conference play and others conclude the non-conference season, a lot has changed from the preseason, but not everything. Here, I'm looking back at our preseason 7A All-State Team and predictions to see what we've gotten right and what we've gotten wrong. Plus, I'm looking ahead to conference play, giving fans an idea of who they should pay attention to down the stretch.