Private school football has long been part of North Carolina’s rich gridiron tradition.
The North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA) has been awarding state titles on the gridiron since the 1970s — and added an eight-man division in 1990 to accommodate smaller programs.
As part of our 25-Year Rewind series, NC Football News looks back at every NCISAA state football champion from 2000 to the present.
🏆 Reigning Champions (2024)
- 11-Man Division I: Rabun Gap (Ga.)
- 11-Man Division II: Asheville School
- 8-Man: Cary Christian
🏈 Queen City Dominance
Charlotte-area schools have ruled NCISAA football since the calendar rolled into the 2000s, especially in the 11-man divisions:
- Charlotte Christian leads with 8 titles (last in 2020)
- Charlotte Latin follows closely with 7 titles (last in 2017)
- Providence Day has 5 titles — including three in a row from 2021-23. Rabun Gap interrupted the Chargers’ run last season in the NCISAA Division I title game.
🟦 Asheville School Makes a Statement
With their third-straight NCISAA state title in 2024, Asheville School is building a legacy in Division II (for schools with fewer than 375 students). The Blues certainly weren’t singing the blues this past fall, rallying from a 14-point deficit in the title game to defeat Trinity Christian to hold onto the trophy.
💥 Eight-Man Elite
The 8-man division has seen multiple dynasties:
- Rocky Mount Academy and Arendell Parrott Academy are tied with 4 titles each. Rocky Mount won the eight-man title in 2023, while Arendell Parrott snagged the trophy in 2022.
- Cary Christian, the 2024 champ, has 2 titles in the last four years and could be entering its own golden era.
- Trinity Christian enjoyed a dominant run from 2007-09, winning the NCISAA eight-man division all three years.
🧱 Building a Powerhouse: Providence Day
Providence Day under coach Chad Grier won three straight 11-man Division I titles (2021–23) and has become a national recruiting pipeline.
Star offensive lineman David Sanders, one of the top 2025 prospects in the nation, will be a freshman at Tennessee this fall. Quarterback Zaid Lott has committed to Syracuse for 2026 (after initially committing to UNC), while wide receiver Gordon Sellars has pledged to Clemson.
Can the Chargers get back to the top of NCISAA Division I this season? View the Providence Day 2025 football schedule HERE.
📈 Title Tracker: Most 11-Man NCISAA Championships
| School | Titles | Most Recent |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Christian | 8 | 2020 |
| Charlotte Latin | 7 | 2017 |
| Providence Day | 5 | 2023 |
| Charlotte Country Day | 5 | 2018 |
| Davidson Day | 4 | 2015 |
| First Assembly (Concord) | 4 | 2011 |
| Asheville School | 3 | 2024 |
| Southlake Christian | 3 | 2017 |
🔹 Most 8-Man Titles
| School | Titles | Most Recent |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mount Academy | 4 | 2023 |
| Arendell Parrott Academy | 4 | 2022 |
| Halifax Academy | 3 | 2019 |
| Southampton Academy | 3 | 2015 |
| Trinity Christian | 3 | 2009 |
NCISAA 11-Man Football | Year-By-Year Champions
| Year | Division I | Division II | Division III |
| 2024 | Rabun Gap | Asheville School | |
| 2023 | Providence Day | Asheville School | |
| 2022 | Providence Day | Asheville School | |
| 2021 | Providence Day | Cannon/Concord Acad./Cabarrus | |
| 2020 | Charlotte Christian | Christ School | |
| 2019 | Charlotte Christian | Providence Day | Trinity Christian |
| 2018 | Charlotte Christian | Charlotte Country Day | |
| 2017 | Charlotte Christian | Charlotte Latin | Southlake Christian |
| 2016 | Charlotte Latin | High Point Christian | Statesville Christian |
| 2015 | Davidson Day | Ravenscroft | High Point Christian |
| 2014 | Charlotte Christian | Southlake Christian | Victory Christian |
| 2013 | Charlotte Christian | Davidson Day | Southlake Christian |
| 2012 | Charlotte Christian | Davidson Day | Victory Christian |
| 2011 | Providence Day | First Assembly-Concord | Davidson Day |
| 2010 | Charlotte Country Day | First Assembly-Concord | |
| 2009 | Charlotte Latin School | First Assembly-Concord | |
| 2008 | Charlotte Christian | Harrells Christian | |
| 2007 | Charlotte Latin | First Assembly-Concord | |
| 2006 | Charlotte Latin | ||
| 2005 | Charlotte Latin | ||
| 2004 | Charlotte Country Day | ||
| 2003 | Charlotte Latin | ||
| 2002 | Charlotte Country Day | ||
| 2001 | Charlotte Country Day | ||
| 2000 | Ravenscroft |
NCISAA 8-Man Football | Year-By-Year Champions
| Year | Division I | Division II |
| 2024 | Cary Christian | |
| 2023 | Rocky Mount Academy | |
| 2022 | Arendell Parrott Academy | |
| 2021 | Cary Christian | Wayne Christian |
| 2020 | Arendell Parrott Academy | Bethel Christian |
| 2019 | Grace Christian (Raleigh) | Halifax Academy |
| 2018 | Faith Christian | Northeast/Hobgood |
| 2017 | Northeast/Hobgood | Rocky Mount Academy |
| 2016 | Bethel Christian | Arendell Parrott Academy |
| 2015 | Southampton Academy | Arendell Parrott Academy |
| 2014 | Rocky Mount Academy | |
| 2013 | Rocky Mount Academy | |
| 2012 | Southampton Academy | |
| 2011 | Word of God | |
| 2010 | Word of God | |
| 2009 | Trinity Christian | |
| 2008 | Trinity Christian | |
| 2007 | Trinity Christian | |
| 2006 | St. David’s | |
| 2005 | Harrells Christian | |
| 2004 | Southampton Academy | |
| 2003 | Harrells Christian | |
| 2002 | Halifax Academy | |
| 2001 | Halifax Academy | |
| 2000 | Wake Christian |
