What are the best high school football rivalries in the Charlotte and North Carolina area? Check out our list

During an appearance on Cam Newton’s “Funky Friday” podcast, the former Carolina Panthers QB and NFL MVP asked Chambers High graduate and superstar rapper DaBaby what the best high school football rivalry in Charlotte was.

“It depends on the era,” DaBaby said in his signature drawl, “but it definitely has to do with West Charlotte… It’s probably West Charlotte and Independence.”

At one point in the 1990s and even through most of the 2000s, DaBaby, a Charlotte native who graduated from Chambers High School, was certainly right. Back then, West Charlotte-Independence may have been the best rivalry in North Carolina. The teams played for conference titles multiple times. The teams met in several memorable playoff games, including an NC 4AA regional championship game in 2007, and often drew 15,000 to 20,000 fans to Memorial Stadium in uptown Charlotte.

But that was then.

“I’d like to say the Butler rivalry is a little bit stronger than the West Charlotte rivalry,” Independence coach DJ McFadden said.

McFadden is heading into his fourth season as the Patriots’ head coach. In 2005 and 2006, he was Independence’s starting quarterback and led the school to two consecutive state championships.

McFadden said that even when he was playing, the Butler game was a bigger rivalry than the West Charlotte game, at least for Patriots players. And, at this point, we’re in agreement: Butler-Independence is the premier high school football rivalry in the Charlotte area.

Since 2000, Butler and Independence have won 10 NCHSAA state football championships.

“When I was playing, West Charlotte week didn’t have the same feel for us as Butler week,” McFadden said. “So for me, I think Butler-Independence is a North Carolina-Duke type of rivalry game.”

A year ago, the teams played for the Southwestern 4A conference title (Butler won) and in the NC 4A state quarterfinals (Independence won).

The rivalry extends to all sports, too. In men’s basketball, for example, Butler beat Independence to take the Southwestern 4A Conference championship in February.

Butler quarterback Zach Lawrence said the fact that the schools are so close to each other (just 5.8 miles or 10 minutes away) makes the rivalry more intense.

“I grew up with a lot of the (Independence) guys,” he said. “We played against each other in everything. I don’t want to be outplayed at anything, and playing that (Butler-Independence) game was always like coming home. It was family, which made the game that much more intense.”

Lawrence’s conference teammate De’Quadre Currence said it’s hard to walk around Matthews or Mint Hill and not see players from both teams, sometimes together.

“We know these guys and off the field or court, we’re pretty good,” he said. “But when we get on the field or court, it’s a rivalry. And it’s pretty intense. We all want the same thing. We’re all trying to win and do our best… Some guys even hang out together (outside of school). It’s great off the field and off the court, but at the same time, once it’s time to play, it’s time to play.”

The other rivalries of the upper zone

Lake Norman vs. Mooresville: No matter the sport, this rivalry brings Mooresville, a town of more than 50,000 people a 30-minute drive from downtown Charlotte, to a standstill. Known as “The Battle of Mo-town,” it’s a game that draws sellout crowds and one that neither team wants to lose.

“They’re right around the corner and we’re close to each other and there’s a lot of talk,” Mooresville linebacker Jamari Farmer said. “We don’t talk. They talk and people talk for them. We just show up and show off.”

Charlotte Christian vs. Providence Day: These two schools are 1.7 miles apart and on the same street in southeast Charlotte. In fact, most Providence Day players don’t call Christian by name. It’s “the school next door.” The teams, which are conference rivals, have won the last seven NCISAA Division I state championships and 11 of the last 13.

Forest Hills vs. Monroe: This rivalry series pits two small school teams that have won state championships. Following a trend, these two schools are close to each other – just an 11-minute drive or 7 miles away.

Chambers vs. Hough vs. Mallard Creek: Any combination of these three teams makes for a great rivalry. Since 2013, Mallard Creek and Chambers have won five state championships. Hough has played into the late stages of the 4A playoffs. In recent years, all three have been nationally ranked and have produced multiple Power 5 college players. Oh, they also all play in the same conference, the Queen City 3A/4A.

AL Brown vs. Concord: For many, many years, this was the premier rivalry in North Carolina and one of the best in the country. The winner receives the Victory Bell, which is painted in their school’s colors. The teams have played since 1931 and have the oldest football rivalry in the state.

Northwest vs. Rock Hill: With a population of about 75,000, the city of Rock Hill has long been known as “America’s Football City” and these two schools have produced multiple NFL players. The rivalry began in 1971 and has spawned articles in several national publications over the years, including ESPN. Northwestern has had the upper hand in the series as of late, but this is still a game that both teams, and fans in the area, always look forward to.

Harding vs. West Charlotte: These two west side schools have played for years and each has won a state championship in their history. Each school has a rich football and band tradition. The halftime competition is often as good as the football. Current West Charlotte coach Sam Greiner won the 2017 4A state title at Harding.

Ardrey Kell v Providence: When Ardrey Kell opened in 2006, it welcomed many students from Providence, just 8.4 miles away. The teams quickly created a rivalry across all sports and currently have one of the biggest rivalries in baseball in the Southeast. Ardrey Kell has gotten the better of the football series lately, but the teams will open the season at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 23, perhaps the biggest football matchup between the schools in history.

“We know a lot of those guys at Ardrey Kell,” Providence defensive end Palmer Stevenson said, “and what happens is there are conflicts between those teams.”

Ashbrook vs. Hunter Huss: In basketball, this rivalry has spawned NBA players like Sleepy Floyd and James Worthy. In football, this was long the Gaston County game of the year, with the winner receiving the Victory Bell. And it still draws huge crowds today.

Charlotte Catholic vs. South Mecklenburg: What do you get when you put together two huge fan bases that know each other and pit them against each other every year? You get a pretty good rivalry matchup. Every year. There are no two schools on our list that are as close as these two. You literally just have to cross Park Road in South Charlotte to get from one campus to the other.

Chris Hughes’ top rivalries in North Carolina

Chris Hughes, co-host of the Charlotte Observer’s Talking Preps and longtime North Carolina football analyst, lists his top 10 high school football rivalries in North Carolina:

1. Waynesville Tuscola vs. Canton Pisgah

2. AL Brown vs. Concord

3. Boiling Springs Crest v. Shelby

4. Richmond vs Scotland County

5. Independence vs. Butler

6. Shelby vs. Kings Mountain

7. Burnsville Mountain Heritage vs. Mitchell

8. East Forsyth vs. West Forsyth

9. Warsaw James Kenan vs Wallace Rose-Hill

10. Greensboro Page vs. Grimsley of Greensboro