The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) has crowned football champions for more than a century, dating back to 1913. Over time, the championship format has evolved from a single open division into multiple classifications, including six-man, eight-man and modern multi-class systems.
This page serves as a complete historical archive of NCHSAA football state champions by year and classification.
- 8A: Hough 21, Millbrook 0
- 7A: Grimsley 24, Clayton 14
- 6A: Watauga 47, Middle Creek 25
- 5A: Crest 31, Hunt 14
- 4A: Reidsville 50, Brevard 20
- 3A: Shelby 84, Kinston 41
- 2A: Tarboro 22, Murphy 0
- 1A: Wilson Prep 9, Robbinsville 8
More North Carolina High School Football Content
▶️ Review the most recent NCHSAA football playoff bracket: NCHSAA 1A-8A Bracket Hub
▶️ Explore the latest NCHSAA conference realignment: NCHSAA conference names and schools 1A-8A
Open Division Champions (1913-1928)
During this era, NCHSAA crowned a single statewide champion with no classifications.
1913 – Raleigh
1914 – Raleigh
1915 – Raleigh
1916 – Charlotte
1917 – Charlotte
1918 – No champion due to influenza pandemic
1919 – Chapel Hill
1920 – Chapel Hill
1921 – Fayetteville
1922 – Asheville
1923 – Charlotte
1924 – Rockingham
1925 – Gastonia
1926 – Sanford
1927 – New Hanover
1928 – New Hanover
Early Classification Era (1929-1940)
During this period, the NCHSAA began awarding state championships by classification. Most years featured Class A and Class B champions, with Six-Man football introduced later in the era.
1929
Class A: Charlotte
Class B: Concord
1930
Class A: Charlotte
Class B: Reidsville
1931
Class A: Durham
Class B: Reidsville
1932
Class A: Charlotte
Class B: Reidsville
1933
Class A: Durham
Class B: Elizabeth City
1934
Class A: Durham, Greensboro*
Class B: Edenton
1935
Class A: Raleigh
Class B: Mount Airy
1936
Class A: Charlotte
Class B: Mills Home
1937
Class A: Charlotte
Class B: Reidsville
1938
Class A: Durham, Greensboro*
Class B: Mount Airy
1939
Class A: Durham
Class B: Reidsville
1940
Class A: Greensboro
Class B: Reidsville
Six-Man: Selma
Note: An asterisk (*) indicates a tie, with co-champions declared.
Three-Class & Six-Man Era (1941-1958)
Class AA, Class A, Class B, Six-Man (1941-1949)
Beginning in 1941, the NCHSAA expanded to a three-class system, awarding separate state championships in Class AA, Class A and Class B. Six-man football titles were also recognized during this era. This period marked an important step toward the multi-class championship structure used today.
1941
Class AA: Raleigh, High Point*
Class A: Laurinburg
Class B: Bessemer
1942
Class AA: Greensboro
Class A: Mount Airy
1943
Class AA: Charlotte
Class A: Reidsville, Laurinburg*
Class B: Curry
1944
Class AA: Wilson
Class A: Laurinburg
1945
Class AA: Raleigh
Class A: Reidsville
Class B: Junior Home, Lexington
1946
Class AA: Wilson
Class A: Mount Airy
1947
Class AA: Fayetteville
Class A: Henderson
Class B: Junior Home, Lexington
1948
Class AA: Fayetteville
Class A: Mount Airy
Class B: Clemmons
1949
Class AA: Durham
Class A: Henderson
Class B: Fairmont
Six-Man: Southern Pines
Note: An asterisk (*) indicates a tie, with co-champions declared.
Class AAA, Class AA, Class A, Six-Man (1950-58)
In 1950, the NCHSAA restructured its classification system, moving from the previous AA–A–B format to a new alignment of Class AAA, Class AA and Class A. This change reflected continued growth in school enrollment and competition across the state. Six-man football championships continued to be recognized during this era.
1950
Class AAA: Durham
Class AA: Reidsville
Class A: Williamston
Six-Man: Drexel
1951
Class AAA: Wilmington
Class AA: Lumberton
Class A: Ahoskie
Six-Man: Candor
1952
Class AAA: R.J. Reynolds
Class AA: Harding
Class A: Ahoskie
Six-Man: Clayton
1953
Class AAA: Durham, R.J. Reynolds*
Class AA: Harding
Class A: Massey Hill
Six-Man: Old Town
1954
Class AAA: Greensboro
Class AA: Reidsville
Class A: Edenton
Six-Man: Southern Pines
1955
Class AAA: Salisbury
Class AA: Kinston
Class A: Cary
Six-Man: Southern Pines
Addition of Class AA-C (1956-1958)
In 1956, the NCHSAA briefly introduced an additional subdivision known as Class AA-C. This designation appears to have been used to further separate schools within the AA level during a time of continued realignment. While the exact administrative reasoning is not well documented publicly, it reflects the association’s ongoing efforts to balance competitive equity.
1956
Class AAA: Fayetteville, Greensboro*
Class AA: Canton
Class A: Edenton
Six-Man: Aberdeen
AA-C: Granite Falls
1957
Class AAA: Salisbury
Class AA: Elizabeth City
Class A: Edenton
Six-Man: Clarkton
AA-C: Morehead City
1958
Class AAA: R.J. Reynolds, Wilson*
Class AA: Morehead
Class A: Andrews
Six-Man: Bath
AA-C: Williamston
Transition Era (1959-1971)
Beginning in 1959, the NCHSAA expanded to a four-class system. However, from 1961 through 1971, the playoff structure changed significantly. To reduce travel, many postseason tournaments ended at the regional level rather than culminating in a true statewide championship game.
As a result, not all classifications crowned official state champions during this period. Instead, teams were often recognized as regional champions, indicated either by numbered regions or by East/West designations. These regional titles are listed below for historical completeness but are not officially recognized by the NCHSAA as statewide champions.
1959
4A: Garinger
3A: Rockingham
2A: Smithfield
1A: Beaufort
8-Man: Bath
1960
4A: Greensboro
3A: Brevard
2A: Edenton
1A: James Kenan
8-Man: Bath
1961
4A: Raleigh
3A-R1: Greenville
3A-R2: Canton
2A-R1: Ahoskie
2A-R2: Hanes
2A-R3: Appalachian
2A-R4: Glen Alpine
1A-R1: Windsor
1A-R2: Rohanen
1A-R3: Allen Jay
8-Man: Clarkton
1962
4A: Rocky Mount
3A-R1: Rockingham
3A-R2: Brevard
2A-R1: Elizabethtown
2A-R2: Jamestown
2A-R3: Appalachian
1A-R1: Windsor
1A-R2: James Kenan
1A-R3: Sumner, East Surry*
1A-R4: Glen Alpine
8-Man: Southport
1963
4A: Rocky Mount
3A-R1: Rockingham
3A-R2: Reidsville, Brevard*
2A-R1: Hertford
2A-R2: Elizabethtown
2A-R3: Mount Holly
2A-R4: Sylva-Webster
1A-R1: Murfreesboro
1A-R2: Weldon
1A-R3: East Surry
1A-R4: Andrews
8-Man: Southport
1964
4A: R.J. Reynolds
3A-R1: Rockingham
3A-R2: Waynesville
2A-R1: Edenton
2A-R2: Elizabethtown
2A-R3: Mt. Pleasant
2A-R4: Appalachian
1A-R1: Farmville
1A-R2: Aberdeen
1A-R3: Glen Alpine
1A-R4: Andrews
8-Man: Southport
1965
4A-R1: Durham
4A-R2: Myers Park
3A-R1: Tarboro
3A-R2: Graham
2A-R1: Edenton
2A-R2: Whiteville
2A-R3: Siler City
2A-R4: Surry Central
2A-R5: Sylva-Webster
1A-R1: Ayden
1A-R2: Littlefield
1A-R3: Glen Alpine
1A-R4: Robbinsville
1966
4A-R1: Broughton
4A-R2: South Mecklenburg
3A-R1: Sanford
3A-R2: Pisgah
2A-R1: Ahoskie
2A-R2: Stedman
2A-R3: North Davidson
2A-R4: Sylva-Webster
1A-R1: Ayden
1A-R2: Liberty
1A-R3: Andrews
1967
4A: Fike
3A-East: Sanford
3A-West: Elkin
2A-East: Edenton, Southern Wayne*
2A-West: Mount Holly
1A-East: Ayden
1A-West: Andrews
1968
4A: Fike
3A-East: Sanford
3A-West: Mt. Airy
2A-East: Rohanen
2A-West: Hendersonville
1A: Ayden
1969
4A: Fike
3A-East: Northeastern
3A-West: Reidsville
2A-East: Edenton
2A-West: Hendersonville
1A: Robbinsville
1970
4A: Broughton
3A-East: 71st
3A-West: Reidsville
2A-East: Ahoskie
2A-West: Murphy
1A: Robbinsville
1971
4A: North Forsyth
3A-East: Havelock
3A-West: Pisgah
2A-East: Gates County
2A-West: Maiden
1A: Robersonville
Modern Four-Class Era and Split Championships (1972-2024)
Beginning in 1972, the NCHSAA adopted the four-class classification structure that remained in place for more than 50 years.
In 2001, the association began experimenting with split playoff brackets, first dividing the 1A classification into two divisions (1A and 1AA). From 2002 through the COVID-affected 2020-21 season, all four classifications were split, resulting in eight state champions each year (4A, 3A, 2A, 1A, plus 4AA, 3AA, 2AA, 1AA).
Following the pandemic season, the NCHSAA returned to a single-champion-per-class model in the fall of 2021, crowning four state champions per year until the move to an eight-class system beginning in 2025.
1972–2001: Four-Class Era (4A, 3A, 2A, 1A)
1972
4A: T. Wingate
3A: Andrews
2A: Sanford, Tuscola*
1A: Sylva-Webster
1A: North Duplin
1973
4A: Sanford Central
3A: Ragsdale, East Bladen*
2A: Sylva-Webster
1A: Robbinsville
1974
4A: Gastonia
3A: Ashbrook
2A: Ragsdale
1A: Murphy
1A: Robbinsville
1975
4A: Rose
3A: Pisgah
2A: Roanoke
1A: Maxton
1976
4A: T. Wingate
3A: Andrews
2A: Pisgah
1A: Franklin
1A: Robbinsville
1977
4A: East Mecklenburg
3A: Western Guilford
2A: Charlotte Catholic
1A: Robbinsville
1978
4A: Richmond County
3A: Watauga
2A: Maiden
1A: Midway
1979
4A: High Point Central
3A: South Point
2A: Swain County
1A: Robbinsville
1980
4A: Greensboro Page
3A: Walter Williams
2A: Sylva-Webster
1A: Robbinsville
1981
4A: South Mecklenburg
3A: Walter Williams
2A: Randleman
1A: Robbinsville
1982
4A: Jacksonville
3A: Brevard
2A: Randleman
1A: Robbinsville
1983
4A: Greensboro Page
3A: Eastern Randolph
2A: Randleman
1A: Robbinsville
1984
4A: Page, 71st*
3A: Tarboro
2A: Forest Hills
1A: Jamesville
1985
4A: Greensboro Page
3A: Walter Williams
2A: Lexington
1A: Swain County
1986
4A: Seventy-First
3A: Shelby
2A: Lexington
1A: Murphy
1987
4A: Garner
3A: Shelby
2A: Whiteville
1A: Murphy
1988
4A: Richmond Senior
3A: Hugh M. Cummings
2A: Thomasville
1A: Swain County
1989
4A: Richmond Senior
3A: A.L. Brown
2A: Clayton
1A: Swain County
1990
4A: Richmond Senior
3A: Hugh M. Cummings
2A: Clinton
1A: Swain County
1991
4A: South View
3A: T. Wingate Andrews
2A: Thomasville
1A: Murphy
1992
4A: East Forsyth
3A: Hugh M. Cummings
2A: West Brunswick
1A: Robbinsville
1993
4A: Northern Durham
3A: West Brunswick
2A: Lincolnton
1A: Hobbton
1994
4A: Crest
3A: Burns
2A: Wallace-Rose Hill
1A: North Edgecombe
1995
4A: West Charlotte
3A: Bertie
2A: Thomasville
1A: Williamston
1996
4A: Crest
3A: Hickory
2A: Clinton
1A: Murphy
1997
4A: Richmond Senior
3A: A.L. Brown
2A: Clinton
1A: North Edgecombe
1998
4A: Richmond Senior
3A: Carver
2A: Shelby
1A: Starmount
1999
4A: A.C. Reynolds
3A: Walter Williams
2A: High Point Central
1A: Williamston
2000
4A: Independence
3A: Bertie
2A: Southwest Onslow
1A: Graham
2001
4A: Independence
3A: Parkland
2A: Clinton
1A: Swain County
1AA: Albemarle
2002
4A: A.C. Reynolds
4AA: Independence
3A: Carver
3AA: Ashbrook
2A: Hugh M. Cummings
2AA: Reidsville
1A: Elkin
1AA: Albemarle
2003
4A: Rose
4AA: Independence
3A: South Point
3AA: Crest
2A: Southwest Onslow
2AA: Reidsville
1A: Elkin
1AA: Albemarle
2004
4A: Rose
4AA: Independence
3A: Concord
3AA: Crest
2A: Southwest Onslow
2AA: Charlotte Catholic
1A: Swain
1AA: Thomasville
2005
4A: Rose
4AA: Independence
3A: Asheville
3AA: Charlotte Catholic
2A: Clinton
2AA: Shelby
1A: Elkin
1AA: Thomasville
2006
4A: Rose
4AA: Independence
3A: Concord
3AA: Eastern Randolph
2A: Hugh M. Cummings
2AA: Shelby
1A: Elkin
1AA: Thomasville
2007
4A: Hoggard
4AA: New Bern
3A: Western Alamance
3AA: Dudley
2A: Lincolnton
2AA: Reidsville
1A: Plymouth
1AA: James Kenan
2008
4A: Seventy-First
4AA: Richmond
3A: West Rowan
3AA: Dudley
2A: Newton-Conover
2AA: Reidsville
1A: Mount Airy
1AA: Thomasville
2009
4A: A.C. Reynolds
4AA: David Butler
3A: West Rowan
3AA: South Point
2A: Tarboro
2AA: Reidsville
1A: Wallace-Rose Hill
1AA: Albemarle
2010
4A: Hillside
4AA: David Butler
3A: West Rowan
3AA: Northern Guilford
2A: Tarboro
2AA: Salisbury
1A: Wallace-Rose Hill
1AA: Albemarle
2011
4A: Scotland
4AA: Page
3A: Havelock
3AA: Northern Guilford
2A: Tarboro
2AA: West Stokes
1A: Murphy
1AA: Swain County
2012
4A: New Bern
4AA: David Butler
3A: Havelock
3AA: Northern Guilford
2A: East Lincoln
2AA: South Iredell
1A: Plymouth
1AA: Southwest Onslow
2013
4A: Dudley
4AA: Mallard Creek
3A: Havelock
3AA: Southern Durham
2A: T.W. Andrews
2AA: Shelby
1A: Murphy
1AA: James Kenan
2014
4A: New Bern
4AA: Mallard Creek
3A: Crest
3AA: Northern Guilford
2A: Shelby
2AA: East Lincoln
1A: Robbinsville
1AA: Wallace-Rose Hill
2015
4A: Charlotte Catholic
4AA: Mallard Creek
3A: Rocky Mount
3AA: Crest
2A: Shelby
2AA: Monroe
1A: Plymouth
1AA: Wallace-Rose Hill
2016
4A: Dudley
4AA: Wake Forest
3A: South Point
3AA: Weddington
2A: Reidsville
2AA: Shelby
1A: Murphy
1AA: Wallace-Rose Hill
2017
4A: Harding University
4AA: Wake Forest
3A: Charlotte Catholic
3AA: New Hanover
2A: Wallace-Rose Hill
2AA: Hibriten
1A: Cherokee
1AA: Tarboro
2018
4A: East Forsyth
4AA: Wake Forest
3A: Charlotte Catholic
3AA: Weddington
2A: Reidsville
2AA: Shelby
1A: Murphy
1AA: Tarboro
2019
4A: East Forsyth
4AA: Zebulon B. Vance (Charlotte)
3A: Charlotte Catholic
3AA: Weddington
2A: Reidsville
2AA: Shelby
1A: Robbinsville
1AA: East Surry
2020-21 (COVID Season)
4A: Grimsley
4AA: Zebulon B. Vance (Charlotte)
3A: Charlotte Catholic
3AA: Mount Tabor
2A: Reidsville
2AA: Salisbury
1A: Murphy
1AA: Tarboro
Following the COVID-affected 2020-21 season, the NCHSAA returned to a single-champion-per-class format beginning with the fall 2021 season. This restored the traditional four-champion structure (4A, 3A, 2A and 1A), which remained in place through the 2024 season.
2021
4A: Cardinal Gibbons
3A: Dudley
2A: Shelby
1A: Tarboro
2022
4A: (Vacated)
3A: East Lincoln
2A: East Duplin
1A: Mount Airy
2023
4A: Hickory
3A: Weddington
2A: Mount Airy
1A: Reidsville
2024
4A: Grimsley
3A: West Charlotte
2A: Monroe
1A: Tarboro
Eight-Class Era (2025-Present)
Beginning with the 2025 season, the NCHSAA introduced an eight-classification system for all sports, with the goal of capping each division at 64 schools. The new alignment created more balanced playoff fields, while the 8A classification was capped at 32 schools to preserve competitive equity at the highest enrollment level.
The first championship weekend under the new system in December 2025 produced a blend of familiar dynasty programs returning to the top of their new homes—such as Reidsville and Tarboro—along with several schools reaching the state championship stage for the first time (Hough, Wilson Prep) or for the first time in many years (Watauga).
2025
8A: Hough
7A: Grimsley
6A: Watauga
5A: Crest
4A: Reidsville
3A: Shelby
2A: Tarboro
1A: Wilson Prep