High school football kicks off on Aug. 22 for teams in the N.C. High School Athletic Association and N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association. 

Grimsley and West Charlotte, a pair of reigning state champions, will be featured in one of the marquee matchups to open the 2025 season. Those two teams, along with Hough and South Pointe (S.C.), are playing in the Keep Pounding High School Football Classic at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

Those games kick off at 4 p.m. and 8, with the state-title teams capping off the night.

As a new season gets underway, let’s highlight players from the Tar Heel State who are committed to play for head coach Bill Belichick and UNC football in the future. 

Entering the opening week of high school football in North Carolina, five players in the state are committed to play for the Tar Heels. Four of those prospects are included in a 2026 class that is ranked 17th nationally, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, as of Aug. 19. 

Trashawn Ruffin, defensive line, North Duplin 

A four-star recruit as a 6-foot-3, 340-pound defensive lineman, Ruffin was originally a Texas A&M commit before flipping his choice to UNC in mid-March. In nine games at North Duplin as a junior, Ruffin logged 34 tackles, including four for loss, and a fumble recovery. 

Zavion Griffin-Hayes, defensive end, Rolesville 

A four-star recruit and 6-foot-6, 225-pound edge rusher, Griffin-Hayes helped Rolesville advance to the NCHSAA 4A state championship game in 2024. As a junior, he was credited with 84 tackles, including 16 for loss and 7 sacks. Griffin-Hayes committed to UNC in early June.

Jayden Griffin-Hayes, linebacker, Rolesville 

The older brother of Zavion, Jayden is a three-star linebacker who racked up more than 100 tackles for the Rams in 2024. He finished with 107 tackles, 10 quarterback hurries, six sacks, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and an interception as a junior. 

David Green, kicker, High Point Christian Academy

The top-ranked kicker in the 2026 class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, Green made 7-of-9 field goals as a junior and made each of his 59 kicks on extra-point attempts. The High Point Christian Academy kicker picked UNC over Virginia Tech in mid-April. 

Amir Brown, running back, Rolesville 

One of two recruits in the 2027 class committed to the Tar Heels, Brown is a 5-foot-10, 200-pound running back from Rolesville. The four-star prospect committed to UNC on Aug. 3, picking the Tar Heels over Penn State and Notre Dame, among others. As a sophomore, Brown had 624 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. 

Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.

MOSCOW, Idaho — Physicality was on display as the Idaho Vandals wrapped up their fall camp with a live scrimmage. The defense made its presence felt with a few hits, something head coach Thomas Ford Jr. has been emphasizing since he took over the program.

“Our guys are physical. We are out here playing like a game almost every single practice, especially when our ones are going against our ones and our twos are going against our twos. And so I think that they’ve done a phenomenal job this fall camp, just really setting the standard for physicality at our practices, and then doing it the right way, keeping guys off the ground,” Ford Jr. said.

The first-team offense and defense played only a few drives, choosing instead to give the second- and third-team guys reps to help finalize the depth chart and determine who will get playing time and who will transition into the scout team. Many veteran players didn’t suit up as they take care of their bodies in preparation for a 12-game season.

Joshua Wood made good use of his time, scoring a touchdown on a read option in the red zone. Quarterback Sawyer Tweeny took reps with the second-team offense and showed his athleticism, maneuvering in the pocket and delivering throws on the run — something Ford Jr. said they noticed this fall.

“Sawyer has really kind of solidified himself as our number two quarterback. Obviously, he’s a true freshman; he doesn’t have a ton of experience. And we’re trying to add to that experience tonight,” Ford Jr. said.

The defense also showed its teeth, with freshman Trenton Fisher picking off Tweeny on a deep ball thrown into tight coverage.

The Vandals now shift their focus from themselves to their week one opponent, Washington State. Ford Jr. said he’s excited for the opportunity to play a regional rival.

“Anytime you get to play a road game and your opponent is something like 8 miles away, you’re excited. I know our kids love playing FBS opponents because we players that could play for FCS programs, or FBS programs, I should say. So, I think the opportunity to compete with an FBS program right down the road is right up our alley,” Ford Jr. said.

The Vandals and Cougars will kick off under the lights in week one with a 7 p.m. start in Pullman. Both programs have a new head coach and plenty of question marks that will be answered when they face off Aug. 30.

CONCORD, CA (Aug. 19, 2025) — De La Salle looked to have a shot at ending the stranglehold Southern California powers Mater Dei and Saint John Bosco have had on the CIF State Open Division football championships last December when the unbeaten Spartans rallied in the third quarter within one score of Mater Dei in the final bowl game of the 2024 season.

It was not to be when Mater Dei pulled away in the fourth quarter, but coach Justin Alumbaugh has a strong squad ranked No. 1 in NorCal in pre-season polls hoping to get another crack at a Southern California power in this year’s Open Bowl game. Starting his 13th season in charge, Alumbaugh is hoping it will be a lucky one as his team faces another daunting non-league slate of games.

The 32-time defending North Coast Section champions host Lakeland of Florida on Aug. 29 in its season opener. The Dreadnaughts won back-to-back Florida state titles in 2022 and 2023. Last season, they lost the 5A championship game to St. Thomas Aquinas, finishing 13-1 and No. 30 in the national rankings. The Spartans ended 22nd nationally.

In this season’s pre-season national poll DLS is 29th and Lakeland 49th.

State 100-meter champion Jaden Jefferson highlights a roster Alumbaugh calls his fastest ever. Junior runningback Deuce Jones-Drew will carry a lot of the rushing duties while Cal-bound offensive and defensive lineman Nemyah Telona will be the centerpiece upfront.

De La Salle was the only one of five local teams to win a game in last fall’s NCS football playoffs.

Clayton Valley Charter (Division 1/Open), Northgate (D-III, College Park (D-IV) and Mt. Diablo (D-V) each fell at the first hurdle of post-season play.

2025 High School Football

Clayton Valley Charter (Open Div./Div. 1) – 8/29 at Spanish Springs-Sparks, NV, 9/5 College Park, 9/12 San Ramon Valley, 9/19 at Northgate, 9/26 Liberty-Brentwood, 10/10 Las Lomas, 10/17 Miramonte, 10/24 @ Campolindo, 10/31 @ Acalanes, 11/7 at De La Salle.

College Park (Div. 2) – 8/29 Dougherty Valley, 9/5 at Clayton Valley Charter, 9/13 at Salesian College Prep-Richmond, 9/19 Acalanes, 9/26 Monte Vista, 10/3 Miramonte, 10/17 at Alhambra-Martinez, 10/24 Northgate, 10/31 at Benicia, 11/7 at DAL Mountain TBA.

Concord (Div. 5) – 8/29 at Newark Memorial-Newark, 9/5 at Alameda, 9/12 San Lorenzo, 9/19 at Irvington-Fremont, 9/26 Mt. Eden-Hayward, 10/3 at Encinal-Alameda, 10/17 Mt. Diablo, 10/24 at Ygnacio Valley, 10/31 at Berean Christian, 11/7 DAL Valley TBA.

De La Salle (Div. 1/Open) – 8/29 Lakeland-Florida, 9/6 @ Serra-San Mateo, 9/12 Saint Francis- Mountain View, 9/19 at Grant-Sacramento, 9/26 St. Mary’s-Stockton, 10/3 Cathedral Catholic-San Diego, 10/17 @ Amador Valley-Pleasanton, 10/24 at San Ramon Valley, 10/30 California-San Ramon, 11/7 Clayton Valley Charter.

Mt. Diablo (Div. 4) – 8/29 Terra Linda-San Rafael, 9/5 Vallejo, 9/12 Hillsdale-San Mateo, 9/19 Alameda, 9/26 Acalanes, 10/3 McClymonds-Oakland, 10/17 @ Concord, 10/25 @ Berean Christian, 10/31 Ygnacio Valley, 11/7 DAL Valley TBA.

Northgate (Div. 3) – 8/30 at Tamalpais-Mill Valley, 9/5 Campolindo, 9/12 Archie Williams-San Anselmo, 9/19 Clayton Valley Charter, 9/26 Menlo School-Atherton, 10/3 at Las Lomas, 10/17 at Benicia, 10/24 at College Park, 10/31 Alhambra, 11/7 at DAL Mountain TBA.

Ygnacio Valley (Div. 5) – 8/30 at Redwood Christian-San Lorenzo, 9/5 Hercules, 9/12 at Freedom-Oakley, 9/19 at San Lorenzo, 9/26 at Stuart Hall-San Francisco, 10/3 Salesian College Prep-Richmond, 10/17 Berean Christian, 10/24 Concord, 10/31 at Mt. Diablo, 11/7 DAL Valley TBA.

Jay Bedecarré

Jay Bedecarré is a long-time resident and writer in Concord and Clayton. He began his newspaper writing career while still a senior at Mt. Diablo High School and he has been part of The Pioneer since its inception in 2003. Jay also operates Bay Area Festivals, presenting events around the San Francisco Bay Area including Bay Area KidFest annually in Downtown Concord.

Elly Randolph led the Raiders with 19 kills, and Callie Largent stuffed the stat sheet in three sets with 27 assists, eight kills, eight digs, two blocks, and two aces in a sweep of Grimsley

Web Editor : Evan Moesta

Posted 2025-08-19T23:22:00-0400 – Updated 2025-08-19T23:36:20-0400

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Governor Tony Evers visited Superior today, touring a childcare and education facility. It was all about highlighting Wisconsin’s new childcare bridge program, which Evers says is helping childcare providers across the state.

The new state funding for childcare providers is derived from an investment of over $360 million approved by the state legislature. This will help provide millions in direct payments to childcare providers all across Wisconsin from July 2025 through June 2026.

“It’s able to, like, give bonuses to our staff. Be able to do raises, be able to add like educational toys in the classroom, pretty much just help keep our doors open, operating,” said Amy Benson, owner of Newborn 2 School Education.

“We have more money for our childcare industry, and it’s $110 million direct money that goes into them, and overall, that’s not adequate, but it’s a step forward,” said Gov. Evers.

The first month of direct payments awarded across Wisconsin totaled $8.7 million, helping support providers, staff, and the care of over 100,000 children. Of that $8.7 million, $13,734 of it was awarded to a childcare and preschool known as Newborn 2 School Education, located in Superior.

“They’ve got staff that have been with them a long time, so I’m just really impressed,” said Gov. Evers.

On top of the $110 million going directly to childcare providers, there is a focus on the Get Kids Ready initiative, Wonderschool, child care resource and referral agencies,  subsidy program, and a pilot program.

“You’ve got to get to a place where families can get quality care at an affordable price and then have access to it, and that’s really what folks are trying to build out here,” said Jeff Pertl, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.

Superior is just one stop on the list of childcare facilities that Gov. Evers is visiting throughout Wisconsin.

AI-assisted summary
• Caitlin Cripe, a senior at Fort Collins High School, won the Coloradoan’s preseason Player of the Year poll for fall girls sports.
• Cripe, a volleyball player, received 51.1% of the votes, beating out other top athletes in the region.
• Last season, Cripe recorded 70 kills and 44 blocks as a middle blocker.

Your votes are in, and we have our 2025 Fort Collins-area preseason fall girls Player of the Year.

Fort Collins volleyball fans made their votes count, spurring Lambkins senior Caitlin Cripe above a crowded ballot and earning her top honors in the Coloradoan’s preseason fan polling.

Congratulations to Caitlin and thank you to fans across the area for voting!

Cripe got 51.1% of the vote in a tightly contested race that featured several other volleyball standouts from the Coloradoan’s preseason players to watch list.

Here’s how the rest of the top five shook out in the fan poll:

2nd: Addi Forrest, Poudre volleyball (25.1%)3rd: Kensley Story, Wellington softball (9.9%)4th: Annabelle Loucks, Heritage Christian volleyball (6.5%)5th: Vanessa Branchflower, PSD flag football (3.3%)Cripe is Fort Collins’ top returning net presence after a junior season that featured 70 kills and 44 blocks from a middle blocker role.The senior will be looking to lead the Lambkins back to the Class 5A postseason after a rare one-year absence last fall.Cripe is also a standout club player for the Premier Volleyball Club, using her 6-foot frame and 9-foot-5 approach jump to soar above the net and win contested balls.The Coloradoan will have more fan polling for top players throughout the school year. Check coloradoan.com/sports every Monday and Thursday for nominees and winners in our weekly Blue Federal Credit Union Athlete of the Week series.

You can send in Athlete of the Week nominations every week to sports reporter Chris Abshire via email: ChrisAbshire@coloradoan.com.

Final poll results below:

Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.