Analyst's Take: What Power Scores Got Right (And Wrong) in Week 7

Prep Redzone got a major upgrade this week with the rollout of Power Scores. The algorithm uses five factors to rank teams in the state. It's a computer model, so it's not perfect, but I think it will add significant value to the site. Here, I'm looking at the current rankings to tell fans what <a href="https://prepredzone.com/north-carolina/team-database/">Power Scores</a> has right and what it's gotten wrong.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Did Power Scores Get Right?</h2>   I'm not going to dive into the ins and outs of Power Scores here. If you want an in-depth look at Power Scores, check out the first <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/09/analysts-take-what-power-scores-has-right-and-wrong-in-week-5/">Analyst's Take</a> from a few weeks ago.   What I will reiterate is that I don't touch these rankings. The only influence I have whatsoever is that I helped calibrate the classification coefficient (Basically, the number that attempts to identify the differences in average talent between each classification).   As the season progresses, these ratings will get more accurate. As it stands, there are some sensible rankings within Power Scores.   Power Scores values winning above all else, so as the number of undefeated teams drops, the ones that remain rise to the top, and that's generally fairly accurate.   I have no problem with the top team in four of the eight public school classifications:   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2A: Tarboro</h3>   The Vikings are clearly the favorites in a fun class. [player_tooltip player_id='473838' first='Kamerin' last='McDowell-Moore'] is playing like the best back in the classification, and [player_tooltip player_id='1408773' first='Tyler' last='Powell'] is once again efficiently leading Tarboro's offense. He's also lived in the backfield off the edge. Power Scores rightly has them as the top 2A team.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">4A: Stuart Cramer, Brevard</h3>   4A is wide open and you could make an argument for a number of teams being the favorite. Stuart Cramer has the slight edge over Brevard, even after a loss to 3A Shelby (The best team in that class, per me, but not Power Scores). They blew through inferior competition to start the season and remain alive in the conference championship race. [player_tooltip player_id='1607810' first='Qualteau' last='Hawkins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1666255' first='Landon' last='Lee'] have formed quite the big-play receiving tandem. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='904263' first='Chris' last='Wurster'] has lived up to the billing, leading the team in tackles and stuffing the stat sheet.   Braylen Thompson and Tristan Thompson-Wynn have been unstoppable offensively for Brevard. It's hard to tell what the Blue Devils' ceiling is, given how much better they are than the schedule they play, but expect them to be around at the end.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">6A: Jacksonville, Terry Sanford, Watauga</h3>   We knew when the classifications were released that 6A could be ruled by teams on either side of the state, and no one would have been surprised if Watauga and Jacksonville ended up on a collision course at the state championship. But a third team has played its way into the conversation, and Power Scores reflects that. Terry Sanford boasts wins over Seventy-First and Jack Britt, among others, in higher classifications.   [player_tooltip player_id='1851677' first='Jacob' last='Moore'] has been outstanding this season for the Bulldogs, willing them to victory on more than one occasion. For Jacksonville, it's been a running game led by [player_tooltip player_id='1895409' first='Amari' last='Pearson'] and a balanced passing attack. These two won't meet in the regular season, and we wouldn't be surprised to see a key semi or quarterfinal matchup.   For Watauga, [player_tooltip player_id='1895140' first='Cade' last='Keller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1868481' first='Evan' last='Burroughs'] have led an efficient, dangerous passing attack. These are the top three teams in the class, in my opinion, and Power Scores agrees.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">7A: Cleveland, Grimsley</h3>   We won't be surprised if both Cleveland and Grimsley end up undefeated in the 7A class. Both are ranked in the top 7 overall Grimsley should move up as the Whirlies roll through their regular season.   We've talked about each of these teams at length in our recent <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/09/7a-midseason-check-in-teams-storylines-to-watch/">7A Check-in</a>, so I won't rehash that. Just know they're rightly at the top of a great class.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Power Scores Has Wrong</h2>   I mentioned this the other day, but I'm not sure if it's a bug (that's certainly a possibility) or if the schedule is boosting Apex Friendship over a Jordan team it recently lost to. Sometimes it takes an extra week for the system to internalize a recent result, but Jordan should be higher than 11th overall and should be ahead of the team it just beat.   I personally think Seventy-First should be a bit higher than 40th, especially given that the only loss was a two-point squeaker on the road to the No. 10 overall team. A young team, the Falcons are better now than they were a month ago. R'maunni Watson has settled in at quarterback after missing last season and transferring in, while running backs [player_tooltip player_id='653512' first='Shon' last='Pone Jr']. and Jayson Franklin are each averaging over 10 yards per carry. The defense has settled in as well, allowing 41 points in its last four games combined.   The pass rush is fierce, and the secondary is opportunistic. There aren't 39 teams I'd be more scared to face than Seventy-First right now.   The same could be said for Independence. Here, I think the schedule has worked against the Patriots. Their least competitive game was a 35-0 loss to Hough, and they've put that on a resume with four close wins (over great teams). The scoring margin hurts them, as does the fact that they just don't get many breaks in the schedule. The Independence offense has been one of the most balanced in the state. [player_tooltip player_id='1124842' first='Jayden' last='Jones'], [player_tooltip player_id='1332108' first='Ricky' last='Myers Jr']., Travis Hill, [player_tooltip player_id='915835' first='Jared' last='Street'] Jr., [player_tooltip player_id='402300' first='Prince' last='Young'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1368095' first='Joell' last='Wooten'] have all gone over 170 yards from scrimmage.   They won't get much of a break on the schedule, as the Patriots have West Charlotte, Chambers, and Mallard Creek in successive weeks. It's not surprising the algorithm doesn't love the Patriots, but we think they're better than 60th in the state.   What do you think of Power Scores? Let us know! See an issue, DM me on Twitter (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>).

Prep Redzone got a major upgrade this week with the rollout of Power Scores. The algorithm uses five factors to rank teams in the state. It's a computer model, so it's not perfect, but I think it will add significant value to the site. Here, I'm looking at the current rankings to tell fans what Power Scores has right and what it's gotten wrong.