3 Underrated Week 6 Matchups

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Underrated Week 6 Matchups</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Porter Ridge vs. Charlotte Catholic</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Porter Ridge is 4-1, but I've barely heard a peep from people outside of the immediate area. The Pirates, led by quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1420953' first='Keenan' last='Sullivan']</strong> and versatile running back/receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600209' first='Raishawn' last='Elmore']</strong>, have their sights set on a conference championship and face a strong Charlotte Catholic team at home on Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Charlotte Catholic is one of the better 3-2 teams in the state, with losses only to Weddington and Providence Day. Running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1369343' first='Garrett' last='Nowlan']</strong> is in the midst of a rare senior breakout, averaging nearly 150 yards a game and leading the Cougars in scoring. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Charlotte Catholic front seven needs to have a good game. Army commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1368127' first='Dominic' last='Basrawala']</strong> 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 <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/keanen-teeter/">Keanen Teeter</a></strong> and <strong>Teddy Viello</strong> are typically disciplined and gap sound, and they'll need to be to slow down the Pirates' running game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1616163' first='Makai' last='Henriquez']</strong> 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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If it comes down to a close game, Charlotte Catholic has the advantage in the form of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1706428' first='Aidan' last='Flynn']</strong>, 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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Alleghany vs. Starmount</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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=&amp;class%5B%5D=2A">Power Scores rankings</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, both teams have been outstanding. Starmount's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1908004' first='Corey' last='Armstrong']</strong> has been excellent, with five sacks and 13 tackles for loss, while two-way player <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='451403' first='Cody' last='Hernandez']</strong> 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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Alleghany, dual-threat quarterback <strong>John LeMasters</strong> 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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Asheville School vs. Christ School</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christ School is led by a quarterback-running back tandem of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1654254' first='Jackson' last='Tolbert']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1728226' first='Jackson' last='Cancel']</strong>. 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 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1311681' first='Linkin' last='Stevens']</strong>, a big, hulking backer who is a key player on both defense and special teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's a great running back matchup as Asheville School has two top guys in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1728224' first='Shiloh' last='Mukendi']</strong> and <strong>Marvyn Larozar</strong>, who have each run for over 400 yards this season. <strong>Xander Prosper</strong> adds some pass-rushing juice to a defense that has been solid this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's one of the top NCISAA matchups of the year, and I'm glad it's a standalone game on Saturday afternoon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Who should we preview next week? Let me know on Twitter (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>)</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->