By Chatham Journal staff

1. Seaforth Hawks – 4-1

Previous ranking: No. 1
Movement: –
Week’s result: Defeated North Moore, 50-0

Seaforth delivered the week’s most dominant performance, scoring 50 points and recording its second shutout of the season.

The result also provides a useful comparison with second-ranked Chatham Central. One week after the Bears defeated North Moore 54-28, Seaforth held the same opponent scoreless. North Moore dropped to 0-5, so neither victory carries great opponent-adjusted value, but the Hawks’ 50-point margin and defensive performance separate them from Chatham Central for another week.

Seaforth has won three consecutive games since losing 48-21 at Southeast Alamance. During that streak, the Hawks have defeated Princeton 70-56, Northwood 22-15 and North Moore 50-0.

The Hawks have scored 211 points through five games-42.2 per contest-and their 4-1 start is the best in the young program’s history. Quarterback Duncan Parker has accounted for 1,423 total yards in the games for which complete statistics have been entered. Receiver Noah Fuller leads the team with 127.5 receiving yards per game, while Mason Pooley has a team-high five touchdowns.

Why Seaforth remains No. 1: The Hawks have played the county’s strongest overall schedule, own a head-to-head victory over Northwood and just shut out an opponent that scored 28 against Chatham Central.

Strengths: Explosive offense, experienced quarterback play, multiple receiving threats and a defense capable of taking over against overmatched opponents.

Concern: The Hawks’ three most recent opponents have a combined losing record. The Southeast Alamance loss remains their only test against a team of comparable or greater strength.

What’s next: Seaforth has an open week before beginning Big Seven 4A/5A Conference play at Orange on Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m.

2. Chatham Central Bears – 5-0

Previous ranking: No. 2
Movement: –
Week’s result: Defeated Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy, 30-24

Chatham Central survived its closest game and extended the best start in program history.

The Bears entered Winston-Salem as the favorite but received a determined challenge from a Phoenix team that fell to 1-4. Chatham Central generated only 195 offensive yards-101 passing and 94 rushing-but made enough plays to earn its first Greater Triad 1A/2A Conference victory.

Quarterback Brooks Albright again led the offense. He completed 9 of 14 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown, then rushed 11 times for 65 yards and two more scores. Gavin Williams caught three passes for 48 yards and a touchdown.

Albright did not reproduce his six-touchdown performance against North Moore, but his ability to make plays through the air and on the ground proved decisive in a six-point road victory.

Chatham Central’s official 5-0 record includes a forfeit against Graham, but the Bears have won four games on the field. Three of those victories have come away from Bear Creek, including a 29-8 win at Jordan-Matthews and a 14-0 shutout at East Columbus.

Why the Bears remain No. 2: Chatham Central is unbeaten, but its schedule has not been as difficult as Seaforth’s. The Bears also allowed 24 points to a one-win Winston-Salem Prep team one week after surrendering 28 to winless North Moore.

Still, the margin between first and second is narrow. Chatham Central has shown more offensive versatility than it possessed early in the season and has repeatedly found ways to win.

Strengths: Albright’s dual-threat ability, road composure, a defense that creates difficult situations and an improving passing game.

Concern: The Bears have allowed 52 points over their last two games after surrendering only eight in their first two games played. Their offense also dropped from 391 yards against North Moore to 195 against Winston-Salem Prep.

What’s next: At North Stokes, Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. The Vikings are 0-5, making anything short of a convincing Chatham Central victory a potential warning sign.

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3. Northwood Chargers – 2-3

Previous ranking: No. 3
Movement: –
Week’s result: Defeated North Surry, 21-14

Northwood strengthened its hold on the third position by recording the county’s best opponent-adjusted victory of the week.

North Surry entered the game 3-1 before the Chargers earned a seven-point home victory. That résumé value matters: Seaforth played winless North Moore, Chatham Central faced one-win Winston-Salem Prep and Jordan-Matthews lost decisively to Providence Grove.

Northwood has now won two of its last three games. Its only loss during that span was a competitive 22-15 decision against top-ranked Seaforth-a game in which the Chargers led 15-0.

That represents a dramatic improvement from Northwood’s opening losses to Harnett Central and Asheboro, which came by a combined 84-14. Over the last three games, Northwood has outscored Bartlett Yancey, Seaforth and North Surry by a combined 78-36.

The Chargers are also the only county team outside the top two to own a victory over an opponent currently above .500. North Surry fell to 3-2 with the loss.

Why the Chargers remain No. 3: Northwood owns the strongest recent trajectory among the bottom two teams and has demonstrated that it can compete against the county’s No. 1 team. Its overall record keeps it behind Seaforth and unbeaten Chatham Central.

Strengths: Improved defense, physical play, ability to win close games and a schedule that has prepared the Chargers for conference competition.

Concern: Northwood has scored 21 points or fewer in four of five games. The defense may need to continue carrying a heavy burden against stronger conference opponents.

What’s next: Northwood has an open week before beginning Four Rivers 3A/4A Conference play at Eastern Randolph on Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m.

4. Jordan-Matthews Jets – 2-3

Previous ranking: No. 4
Movement: –
Week’s result: Lost to Providence Grove, 45-6

Jordan-Matthews remains fourth after suffering its second consecutive lopsided defeat.

Providence Grove led 14-0 after the first quarter and 35-0 at halftime. The Jets scored their only touchdown during the third quarter before losing by 39 points.

The result followed a 58-20 loss to Wheatmore. Over the last two weeks, Jordan-Matthews has been outscored 103-26 and has allowed at least 45 points in consecutive games.

The Jets’ 2-0 start included encouraging victories over Carrboro and North Stokes, but their season has changed significantly. Jordan-Matthews has now lost three of four, and all three defeats have come by at least 21 points.

Providence Grove improved to 3-2, giving the Jets a more difficult opponent than they faced against Wheatmore. The margin, however, was too large to suggest meaningful improvement. Jordan-Matthews trailed by five touchdowns before scoring.

Why the Jets remain No. 4: Northwood defeated a winning team while Jordan-Matthews suffered another running-clock-level loss. The Jets have allowed 103 points in two weeks and have lost the defensive consistency they showed early.

Strengths: Two early victories and an offense that demonstrated scoring potential before the last two games.

Concern: Defense at every level. Jordan-Matthews has surrendered 190 points through five games-38 per contest-and has scored only 26 points during its three-game losing streak.

What’s next: At East Chapel Hill, Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. This is a crucial opportunity to stop the losing streak before Four Rivers Conference play begins.

Chatham County Football Player of the Week

Brooks Albright, Chatham Central quarterback

Albright earns Player of the Week honors for the second consecutive week after accounting for three touchdowns in Chatham Central’s 30-24 road victory over Winston-Salem Prep.

The junior completed 9 of 14 passes for 101 yards and one touchdown without an interception. He added 65 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, giving him 166 total yards.

His raw numbers were smaller than the previous week, when he threw six touchdown passes against North Moore, but the circumstances were more demanding. Chatham Central faced its closest game of the season, played on the road and needed Albright’s dual-threat production to remain unbeaten.

Albright accounted for three of the Bears’ four touchdowns and protected the ball throughout the conference opener.

Note: Complete individual statistics had not been posted for Seaforth’s victory over North Moore or Northwood’s victory over North Surry as of Sunday.

Next key matchups

• Chatham Central at North Stokes – Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m.
  The unbeaten Bears face an 0-5 opponent in their second conference game. The challenge is maintaining focus and restoring the defensive dominance displayed early in the season.
• Jordan-Matthews at East Chapel Hill – Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m.
  This is the week’s most consequential game for a county team. The Jets need to halt a three-game losing streak and rebuild confidence before conference play.
• Seaforth at Orange – Friday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m.
  After an open week, the Hawks begin Big Seven Conference play on the road.
• Northwood at Eastern Randolph – Friday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m.
  The improving Chargers take their 2-1 run into the Four Rivers Conference opener.

Rankings at a glance

Rank	Team	Record	Previous	Movement
1	Seaforth	4-1	1	–
2	Chatham Central	5-0	2	–
3	Northwood	2-3	3	–
4	Jordan-Matthews	2-3	4	–

Rankings include games completed through Friday, Sept. 18. The order weighs opponent strength, scoring margin, head-to-head results, notable performances and recent trajectory.