The North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s months-long transition to eight classes brought discussions of possible matchups on the gridiron, and now, many of those games are real.
Football schedules for Chatham County’s high schools are finalized for the 2025 season.
After competing altogether in the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference for the last two seasons, the county’s programs will be split into three different conferences.
Seaforth, now a 5A school, will join the Big 7 4A/5A conference, and Chatham Central, still a 1A program will play in the Greater Triad 1A/2A conference. Northwood and Jordan-Matthews will remain together in the Four Rivers 3A/4A conference.
Here’s a look at each program’s upcoming schedule (dates and opponents) and some takeaways:
Seaforth (Big 7 4A/5A)
Aug. 22 at Chapel Hill
Aug. 29 vs Southeast Alamance
Sept. 5 at Princeton
Sept. 12 vs. Northwood
Sept. 19 at North Moore
Oct. 3 vs. Orange*
Oct. 10 at Cedar Ridge*
Oct. 17 vs. South Granville*
Oct. 24 at Webb*
Oct. 31 vs. Carrboro*
Northwood (Four Rivers 3A/4A)
Aug. 9 at Western Harnett (scrimmage)
Aug. 15 – Jack Shaner Jamboree
Aug. 22 at Harnett Central
Aug. 28 vs. Asheboro
Sept. 5 vs. Bartlett Yancey
Sept. 12 at Seaforth
Sept. 19 at North Surry
Oct. 3 vs. Eastern Randolph*
Oct. 10 vs. Jordan-Matthews*
Oct. 17 at North Moore*
Oct. 24 at Southwestern Randolph*
Oct. 31 vs. West Carteret
Jordan-Matthews (Four Rivers 3A/4A)
Aug. 22 at Carrboro
Aug. 29 at Chatham Central
Sept. 5 vs. North Stokes
Sept. 12 at Wheatmore
Sept. 19 vs. Providence Grove
Sept. 26 vs. American Leadership Academy – Johnston
Oct. 3 at North Moore*
Oct. 10 at Northwood*
Oct. 17 vs. Southwestern Randolph*
Oct. 31 vs. Eastern Randolph*
Chatham Central (Greater Triad 1A/2A)
Aug. 22 at Graham
Aug. 29 vs. Jordan-Matthews
Sept. 5 vs. East Columbus
Sept. 12 at North Moore
Sept. 19 vs. North Stokes*
Oct. 3 at College Prep and Leadership Academy*
Oct. 10 at Bishop McGuinness*
Oct. 17 at South Stokes*
Oct. 24 vs. South Davidson*
Oct. 31 vs. Winston-Salem Prep*
Old rivalries prevail
Whether they have playoff implications or not, Chatham County’s oldest (and newer) rivalries are here to stay following conference realignment. After two straight nailbiters, Jordan-Matthews and Chatham Central will continue their decades-long beef during week two in Bear Creek. The Jets will also keep historic rival Northwood as a conference foe later in the season. And although it’s only as old as Seaforth’s varsity program, Northwood’s rivalry with the Hawks will get another chapter on Sept. 12 at Seaforth. The last time those two teams battled for Pittsboro, bragging rights in the town came down to the final plays.
New powers?
No longer are the days of chasing Southeast Alamance and Cummings for conference titles as new historically good programs will take trips to Chatham County. Former Piedmont Athletic 1A/2A power Eastern Randolph will join Northwood and Jordan-Matthews in the Four Rivers 3A/4A conference. The Wildcats have won at least 10 games in the last four seasons and will look to continue that success in a new setting. Seaforth could become a power in its new conference based on the recent history of its conference opponents. None of the Hawks’ new conference members had a winning season in 2024, creating some hope that this could be the year for the Hawks’ first conference title.