LAURINBURG — After a bye week, in preparation for the conference part of their schedule, the Fighting Scots fell one spot to No. 3 in this week’s Associated Press state football poll.
The drop was expected because of the Scots having last week off, but moving down one place isn’t cause for any concern as the Scots gear up to begin conference play.
Mallard Creek had the biggest move of the week from No. 3 passing Scotland to reclaim the No. 2 spot after picking up their fifth win. Greensboro Dudley remained a top the 4A poll at No. 1 for a third week in a row as they moved to 6-0 on the season.
Apex Middle Creek held steady at No. 4 in this week’s AP poll and Matthews Butler rounded out the top five. Mallard Creek and Butler are the only top five teams with a loss, there are two other schools in the Top 10 — Wake Forest and Charlotte Catholic — that could sneak into the top five should the defending champions loss another game.
Moving into the top 10 this week is the Fighting Scots other SEC rival — Pinecrest. This is the first time this season the Patriots have made the AP top 10 with a 6-0 record they are poised to take on Lumberton tonight. The Scots and Pinecrest will meet next on Oct. 14 in what could be a battle of the unbeatens.
The Associated Press state high school football poll for the week of Oct. 2, as voted upon by a statewide panel of prep sports writers, will be released weekly until the end of the regular season:
Class 4-A
1. Greensboro Dudley (6-0)
2. Charlotte Mallard Creek (5-1)
3. Scotland County (6-0)
4. Apex Middle Creek (6-0)
5. Matthews Butler (6-1)
6. Wake Forest (6-0)
7. Charlotte Catholic (5-1)
8. East Forsyth (5-1)
9. Greensboro Page (5-1)
10. Southern Pines Pinecrest (6-0)
Others receiving 10 or more points: Charlotte Vance (5-1), Charlotte Myers Park (6-0) and Davie County (6-1).
Class 3-A
1. Havelock (7-0)
2. Lenoir Hibriten (6-0)
3. Shelby Crest (5-1)
4. Rocky Mount (5-1)
5. Eastern Alamance (7-0)
6. Southern Nash (6-0)
7. Orange County (7-0)
8. Lawndale Burns (7-0)
9. West Craven (6-0)
10. Western Alamance (5-1)
Others receiving 10 or more points: Monroe Sun Valley (5-1).
Class 2-A
1. Shelby (7-0)
2. Lincolnton (6-0)
3. Clinton (6-0)
4. Reidsville (6-0)
5. East Lincoln (5-1)
6. Edenton Holmes (6-1)
7. Elizabeth City Northeastern (5-1)
8. Monroe (4-2)
9. East Duplin (5-1)
10. Bunn (5-1)
Others receiving 10 or more points: Burnsville Mountain Heritage (6-1).
Class 1-A
1. Wallace-Rose Hill (6-0)
2. Mitchell County (6-0)
3. Mt. Airy (6-0)
4. West Montgomery (6-0)
5. East Montgomery (7-0)
6. Tarboro (4-2)
7. North Edgecombe (5-0)
8. East Carteret (6-1)
9. Murphy (6-1)
10. Riverside Martin (5-1)
Others receiving 10 or more points: Rocky Point Trask (5-1).