By Chatham Journal staff
Pittsboro, NC – Over the last two high school football seasons, sports reporter Asheebo Rojas of the Chatham News & Record revealed his weekly power rankings on the Chatham NC Sports Roundup livestream, co-hosted with Gene Galin of the Chatham Journal. It was a light-hearted look at how the local county football teams stacked up. Since Asheebo has moved on to other opportunities, we are attempting to see if we can continue the weekly power rankings.
We are treating this as a power ranking, and not simply a standings table. The order weighs four things together: win-loss results, quality of opponents, scoring margins, and how strong each team appears going forward based on available statistics and performances. This distinction matters most at the top, where undefeated Chatham Central has a legitimate case for No. 1, but Seaforth has played the more revealing schedule.
1. SEAFORTH HAWKS
Record: 1-1
Movement: NEW
Last game: Lost 48-21 at Southeast Alamance
Résumé
Seaforth gets the narrow nod at No. 1 despite the loss Friday because the Hawks have shown the highest ceiling of the four teams against the most informative two-game schedule.
The opener was emphatic: Seaforth 48, Chapel Hill 0. Quarterback Duncan Parker threw for 286 yards and a career-high six touchdowns and added another score on the ground. Seaforth led 41-0 before halftime, generated turnovers and never allowed Chapel Hill’s offense to establish itself. Chapel Hill is now 0-2 and has been outscored 78-0, so that victory has lost some résumé value, but dominating an opponent by 48 still matters.
The Week 2 loss requires more context. Southeast Alamance is 2-0, has scored 90 points in two games and beat Seaforth 48-21. The Stallions produced 355 passing yards and 137 rushing yards against the Hawks, and MaxPreps recently had Southeast Alamance among the stronger teams in the state. That is a significant defensive warning for Seaforth, but it is also substantially better competition than most of the county has faced.
Strengths
Quarterback play and explosive passing offense. Parker’s opening performance remains the most impressive individual game produced by a Chatham County quarterback this season. Mason Pooley caught three touchdown passes against Chapel Hill, and Seaforth demonstrated that it can create explosive plays from multiple receivers.
There is also evidence that the Hawks can punish an overmatched opponent quickly. They recovered from a fumble on their first offensive snap against Chapel Hill and still built a running-clock margin before halftime.
Concerns
The Southeast Alamance game exposed the other side of the equation. Allowing 48 points after posting a shutout one week earlier creates a large question about how Seaforth’s defense will perform against stronger offenses.
The ground game also bears watching. MaxPreps’ early statistical profile has Seaforth much more productive through the air than on the ground. If opponents can pressure Parker and force the Hawks to win consistently between the tackles, Seaforth will need another answer.
Why No. 1?
If these four teams played on a neutral field tomorrow, Seaforth currently has the most evidence of a high-end offense. The Hawks have scored 69 points in two games, own the county’s largest victory and have already faced an unbeaten Southeast Alamance team.
The margin over Chatham Central is small. A second strong performance by the Bears could flip the top two immediately.
What’s next
Thursday, Sept. 3 — HOME vs Princeton, 7 p.m.
Princeton is 1-1, beating Ayden-Grifton 34-9 before losing 40-34 to East Duplin. Running back/quarterback Teo McPhatter is averaging more than 250 rushing yards per game according to MaxPreps, giving Seaforth’s run defense an immediate chance to answer one of the biggest questions coming out of Week 2.
2. CHATHAM CENTRAL BEARS
Record: 2-0
Movement: NEW
Last game: Won 29-8 at Jordan-Matthews
Résumé
No team made a bigger statement Friday than Chatham Central.
After receiving a 2-0 forfeit over Graham without taking the field, the Bears went into Siler City for their actual season debut and beat Jordan-Matthews 29-8. That is currently the best head-to-head result involving two teams in these rankings.
And the way Chatham Central won matters.
Tyler Congrove carried only seven times but produced 86 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Brooks Albright threw for 114 yards on 10 attempts, with Gavin Williams accounting for 45 receiving yards. Defensively, Williams and Congrove each intercepted a pass, while Sayvion Burnette returned a fumble for a touchdown.
That’s a strong formula: efficient rushing, enough passing to maintain balance and a defense capable of creating points itself.
Strengths
Defense and takeaways. Three major turnover plays against Jordan-Matthews transformed the Bears’ first real game into a comfortable three-touchdown victory.
Efficiency. Congrove’s 86 yards on seven carries works out to more than 12 yards per rush. Chatham Central did not need huge passing volume to control the game.
Physical readiness. The biggest preseason concern was that the Graham cancellation would send the Bears into their first real game without live-game experience. Instead, they beat a Jordan-Matthews team that had already played and won.
Concerns
The sample size is tiny.
Chatham Central is officially 2-0, but only one of those victories was played. Graham did not field a varsity team, so the Bears’ résumé consists of one meaningful on-field data point.
It’s an excellent data point — but still one.
That is essentially the only reason Chatham Central isn’t No. 1. If the Bears reproduce Friday’s defensive performance against another legitimate opponent, they could take the top spot regardless of Seaforth’s result.
Why No. 2?
Chatham Central has the best record and best county head-to-head result, while Seaforth has the broader body of work and stronger demonstrated offensive ceiling.
This is closer to 1A and 1B than a sizable gap.
What’s next
Friday, Sept. 4 — AWAY at East Columbus, 7 p.m.
This is an excellent measuring stick. East Columbus is 2-0, beating Green Sea Floyds 12-8 and Heide Trask 12-6. The Gators have allowed just 14 points through two games, setting up what could become a low-scoring test of two defenses.
A Chatham Central road victory there would strengthen its argument for No. 1 considerably.
3. JORDAN-MATTHEWS JETS
Record: 1-1
Movement: NEW
Last game: Lost 29-8 vs Chatham Central
Résumé
Jordan-Matthews produced one of the county’s best opening nights, beating Carrboro 36-22. The Jets scored their most points in a season opener in recent years and entered Week 2 with a chance to start 2-0.
Then came the reversal.
Chatham Central went into Siler City and won 29-8, holding the Jets to one touchdown while generating multiple turnovers. The Bears intercepted two passes and scored on a fumble return, a sequence that raises the most important issue Jordan-Matthews has to solve before conference play: ball security.
The opening win has also weakened somewhat in retrospect because Carrboro has fallen to 0-2, following the Jordan-Matthews loss with a 24-3 defeat against Northern Durham.
Strengths
Scoring potential. Putting 36 points on the board in the opener demonstrated that this Jets offense can generate offense when things are functioning properly.
A real win on the résumé. Unlike Chatham Central’s forfeit opener, Jordan-Matthews earned its opening victory on the field.
Opportunity to recover quickly. The schedule provides the Jets with an opponent next week that has struggled even more significantly.
Concerns
The 29-8 loss is hard to overlook because it came at home against another team in these rankings.
Turnovers are especially concerning. Chatham Central produced two interceptions plus the Burnette fumble-return touchdown. In a game ultimately decided by 21 points, those possessions were pivotal.
There is also limited individual statistical data publicly entered for Jordan-Matthews on MaxPreps, so it would be premature to attach the Jets’ offensive production to specific players without better source material.
Why No. 3?
Jordan-Matthews stays clearly ahead of Northwood because it has already demonstrated it can score and win a varsity game.
But the head-to-head result makes it impossible to place the Jets ahead of Chatham Central right now.
What’s next
Friday, Sept. 4 — AWAY at North Stokes, 7 p.m.
North Stokes is 0-2, losing 41-6 to Cherryville and 30-6 to Elkin. The Vikings have scored only 12 points in two games.
For Jordan-Matthews, anything short of a strong bounce-back performance would raise concerns. A decisive road win would put the Jets right back into the conversation with the top two.
4. NORTHWOOD CHARGERS
Record: 0-2
Movement: NEW
Last game: Lost 35-7 at Asheboro
Résumé
The record and margins are ugly: Northwood has lost 49-7 to Harnett Central and 35-7 to Asheboro, leaving the Chargers at 0-2 with a 14-84 scoring differential.
But Northwood easily owns the strongest strength-of-schedule defense of any team on this list.
Harnett Central is 2-0 and has scored 108 points, following its Northwood victory with a 59-46 win over Overhills. Asheboro is also 2-0, beating Scotland 25-22 before handling Northwood. MaxPreps had Asheboro ranked No. 43 in North Carolina after the second week and Harnett Central No. 115. Northwood’s opponents are a combined 4-0.
That’s meaningful. It does not erase two decisive defeats, but 0-2 against that pair is different from 0-2 against struggling opponents.
Strengths
The schedule should harden the Chargers. Northwood has already seen two offenses capable of punishing mistakes quickly.
Against Harnett Central, the Chargers were overwhelmed 49-7 before halftime but held the Trojans scoreless in the second half. That gave Northwood at least one positive defensive stretch to build upon.
The Chargers also don’t have to wonder where their deficiencies are. Two difficult opponents have exposed them immediately.
Concerns
Offensive production is the biggest issue in the county.
Northwood has scored exactly seven points in each game. In the opener, MaxPreps recorded only 70 passing yards and 21 rushing yards. Against Asheboro, the Blue Comets generated 217 passing and 217 rushing yards on their side of the matchup.
An elite schedule can explain losses. It cannot completely explain 14 points in eight quarters.
Until Northwood shows it can sustain drives and score multiple touchdowns, the Chargers remain No. 4.
Why No. 4?
Strength of schedule keeps Northwood from being dismissed, but a power ranking eventually has to reward performance.
Two losses by 42 and 28 points, with seven offensive points in each, leave too much ground to make up.
What’s next
Friday, Sept. 4 — AWAY at Bartlett Yancey, 7 p.m.
Bartlett Yancey is 1-1, losing 45-18 to Northern Durham before edging American Leadership Academy-Johnston 8-6.
This feels like an important reset opportunity for Northwood. The Chargers don’t necessarily need a blowout; they need offensive progress and a competitive four-quarter performance.
The biggest debate: Seaforth or Chatham Central?
There is a legitimate argument for putting Chatham Central No. 1.
The Bears are 2-0 officially, just won an actual game 29-8 and own a dominant victory against another county team. Seaforth is 1-1 and just surrendered 48 points.
I still give Seaforth the slightest edge because power rankings ask who appears strongest right now, not simply who has the cleanest record. Seaforth has played two actual games, demonstrated a high-end passing attack and faced an undefeated Southeast Alamance team that is substantially stronger than anyone Chatham Central has yet played.
But Chatham Central can change that quickly. If the Bears go to 2-0 East Columbus and win on Friday, the résumé question largely disappears.
Ranking entering Week 3
1. Seaforth (1-1) — Best combination of offensive ceiling and schedule strength.
2. Chatham Central (2-0) — Best county result; one more quality performance could make the Bears No. 1.
3. Jordan-Matthews (1-1) — Encouraging opener followed by a decisive county loss.
4. Northwood (0-2) — Brutal schedule deserves context, but offense has to improve.