Week 2 of the 2026 North Carolina high school football season has arrived, and several Wilmington-area teams will have little time to prepare.
Ashley, Laney and New Hanover have just four days to prepare for their Week 2 opponents after their season openers were pushed to Monday, Aug. 24, because of inclement weather.
Seven area teams are at home this week, including Hoggard, which hosts Jack Britt in its home opener. The Vikings escaped this matchup with a 44-40 win last fall.
Here are five bold predictions for Week 2 of the 2026 North Carolina high school football season in Wilmington.
Topsail stuns Croatan
Topsail stays in Hampstead for Week 2, welcoming a Croatan team coming off
an 11-2 season in 2025.
There’s no hiding the challenge. The Pirates are massive underdogs against a Cougars team that returns running back Andrew Boucher, who rushed for 1,683 yards and 31 touchdowns last season, and quarterback Kannon McBride, who threw for 2,072 yards and 30 scores.
Croatan reinforced those expectations by blasting East Carteret 50-0 in Week 1.
But Topsail showed some offensive firepower of its own in its season opener, led by three rushing touchdowns from freshman running back Kyle Albert.
The Pirates will have to eliminate the mental mistakes that plagued them at times in Week 1. Beating Croatan will likely require Topsail’s best performance in years.
That’s what makes it a bold prediction.
Hoggard walks all over Jack Britt
Last year’s matchup was all gas, no brakes.
The teams combined for 84 points as Hoggard survived a late Jack Britt surge to escape with a 44-40 victory.
This time around should favor a Vikings team returning to Wilmington after an impressive 27-13 road win over Richmond in Week 1.
Hoggard brings back more proven talent and has a home-field advantage unlike any other team in the area. Expect the Vikings to start fast and control this one from the opening whistle.
North Brunswick holds off South Brunswick
Conference standings no longer connect these two programs, but this Brunswick County rivalry is never a gimme.
North Brunswick returns to Leland after a 10-7 road win over Corinth Holders in Week 1, while South Brunswick is looking to bounce back from a home loss to West Brunswick.
The Scorpions have more size and greater depth across the board, making them clear favorites on paper.
Rivalry games have a way of staying close, but expect North Brunswick to do enough to start 2026 at 2-0.
Laney survives road battle
Laney gets a shot at revenge in Week 2, traveling to face Garner after the Bucs' Week 1 game was postponed.
This matchup turned ugly for the Buccaneers last season as Garner stormed into Buctown and left with a 42-7 victory.
There’s plenty working against Laney this time around, too, but revenge can be a powerful motivator.
Fresh off the program’s first win under coach Coraey Houser, expect a Buccaneers team determined to prove 2026 is different.
Ashley’s Purzitza claims first win in the Nest
Ashley’s Week 2 home opener gives new coach Adam Purzitza his first chance to win in the Nest as the Screaming Eagles host E.E. Smith.
The former Hoggard offensive coordinator will have his hands full with Golden Bulls 5-star edge rusher Casswell Cruickshank, the No. 1 Class of 2028 prospect in North Carolina with 42 Division I offers.
His brother, Mikhie, is a 3-star cornerback, giving E.E. Smith plenty of star power despite a 30-22 overtime loss to Hillside in Week 1.
Ashley might not match the Golden Bulls’ talent on paper, but with home-field advantage and a rowdy Screaming Eagles fanbase behind them, expect plenty of fight from a 1-0 Ashley in Week 2.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Upsets coming? 5 Wilmington high school football Week 2 predictions
