Week 9 of the 2026 North Carolina high school football season has arrived, and the dust is beginning to settle in Wilmington.
Hoggard (6-1, 3-0 Carolina Coast) remains king of the hill, but Laney (3-4, 2-1) and Ashley (4-3, 2-1) are lurking in second place.
Both Wilmington challengers face pivotal tests Friday, Oct. 16, as Ashley hosts New Hanover and Laney welcomes the conference-leading Vikings to Buctown.
Meanwhile, Topsail and West Brunswick meet in Shallotte for a battle of 2-6 teams desperate to turn their seasons around. Find complete Wilmington-area high school football schedules here.
Here are four bold predictions for Week 9.
Ashley holds off New Hanover
Ashley (4-3, 2-1) is riding
high after knocking off North Brunswick in Week 8, and the Screaming Eagles have revenge on their minds after last fall’s 32-22 loss to New Hanover.
That defeat snapped Ashley’s two-game winning streak against the Wildcats, who lead the all-time series 21-3.
Despite being outscored 178-141 this fall, Ashley has caught fire with consecutive conference victories after stumbling against Topsail.
New Hanover (2-5, 1-2), meanwhile, watched a 21-6 first-quarter lead evaporate against West Brunswick last week. The Wildcats have been outscored 212-98 this season and rank 205th in North Carolina, according to MaxPreps.
Expect a spirited response from New Hanover, but Ashley’s momentum should carry the Screaming Eagles to their fourth all-time victory over their crosstown rival.
Hoggard rolls past Laney
Hoggard (6-1, 3-0) has been a wrecking ball this fall, outscoring opponents 252-68 behind quarterback Matthew Boring, who completes nearly 69% of his passes and has 14 touchdowns.
Laney (3-4, 2-1) returns to Buctown for the first time in four weeks, rested after a Week 8 bye and fresh off a 34-6 dismantling of Topsail in Week 7.
The Buccaneers are averaging 25.8 points per game, but containing Hoggard’s explosive offense has proven difficult.
Expect the Vikings to take another commanding step toward the conference crown.
Topsail edges West Brunswick
Something has to give in Shallotte, where Topsail (2-6, 1-3) and West Brunswick (2-6, 1-3) collide Friday.
Despite missing starting quarterback Josiah Borton, the Trojans stormed back to stun New Hanover in Week 8, snapping a six-game skid.
Topsail, meanwhile, has hit an offensive wall, managing just 13 points across its last two games. Hoggard held the Pirates to 103 yards of offense last week.
Neither team has much separation on paper, but the Pirates can prove their record doesn’t tell the whole story. Expect a nail-biter in Brunswick County, with Topsail escaping by a narrow margin.
South Columbus holds off South Brunswick
South Brunswick (3-4, 1-1 Southeastern) has another mountain to climb Friday as South Columbus (5-2, 2-0) rolls into town.
The Cougars were buried in a 41-0 halftime hole against unbeaten Whiteville last week before falling 41-20.
South Columbus, meanwhile, is firing on all cylinders. The Stallions have won four straight, including a 49-0 demolition of Red Springs in Week 8.
Expect South Brunswick to show some fight on its home turf, but the red-hot Stallions should pull away late.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Can Laney shock Hoggard? Wilmington high school football Week 9 picks
