The 2026 North Carolina high school football season is halfway through.
Hendersonville shut down Mitchell in a 20-7 win in the lone top-10 matchup in Week 5.
Here are our Super 10 Western North Carolina high school football rankings ahead of Week 6.
1. Hendersonville (5-0, 1-0 Western Highlands Conference)
Hendersonville quarterback JaRon Ward has shown that he is more than a pocket passer over the past two weeks. In a 42-35 win vs. Erwin, he ran for 117 yards on 12 carries. Last week in a victory over Mitchell, he had 77 rushing yards on 11 carries while throwing for over 200 yards and three touchdowns.
This week: Open. Last week: No. 1.
2. Franklin (5-0, 2-0 Mountain Eight Conference)
Wide receiver Gabe Harrison has established himself as one of the top wideouts
in Western North Carolina this season. He has caught 17 passes for 298 yards and four touchdowns. He had three catches for 91 yards and a touchdown in a 41-6 win vs. Brevard.
This week: vs. Pisgah (3-2). Last week: No. 2.
3. Tuscola (5-0, 2-0 Mountain Eight Conference)
The Tuscola defense forced three turnovers in a 56-28 win vs. West Henderson in Week 5. John Hansen recorded an interception and a fumble recovery, and Jake Durbin also had an interception.
This week: vs. No. 7 Smoky Mountain (5-0). Last week: No. 3.
4. Roberson (4-1)
The Roberson offense has averaged 46 points per game after nonconference play. Its lowest-scoring game was a 19-16 loss vs. South Point in Week 3.
This week: Open. Last week: No. 4.
5. Asheville High (3-1)
The Cougars have one more nonconference game against Watauga on Sept. 25 before a showdown that likely will be the de facto Mountain Athletic Conference championship game at No. 4 Roberson on Oct. 2.
This week: at Watauga (1-3). Last week: No. 5 .
6. Christ School (5-0)
Quarterback Mak Anderson threw four touchdown passes, two to wide receiver Jason Dorel Onana, in a 40-22 win vs. Charlotte Latin last week. Dorel Onana had 70- and 85-yard touchdown catches in the victory.
This week: vs. No. 9 Asheville School (3-2). Last week: No. 6.
7. Smoky Mountain (5-0, 2-0 Mountain Eight Conference)
Running back Rylee Smith only needed nine carries to run for 147 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-0 victory vs. East Henderson in Week 5. He has run for at least 142 yards and two touchdowns in each game this season.
This week: at No. 3 Tuscola (5-0). Last week: No. 7.
8. Enka (5-0)
The Jets rode a 28-point first quarter to a 49-7 victory against McDowell on Sept. 18. Running back Tommy McKinney rushed for 186 yards and five touchdowns on 13 carries.
This week: Open. Last week: No. 8.
9. Asheville School (3-2)
Running back Shiloh Mukendi ran for 270 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in a 26-20 win vs. Charlotte Country Day School. That brings his season total to 1,210 rushing yards, which ranks fourth nationally.
This week: at No. 6 Christ School (5-0). Last week: No. 10.
10. Erwin (3-2)
The Warriors overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to secure a 31-27 win over Watauga in Week 5. Running back Jah'Baree Tolbert ran for 121 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Wide receiver Kobe Lunsford caught three passes for 83 yards and a touchdown.
This week: Open. Last week: Unranked.
Zachary Huber is a high school sports reporter for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him at zhuber@gannett.com or follow him on X @zacharyahuber.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Why Erwin joins the Super 10 Football Rankings at midseason
