The annual N.C. Coaches Association Kick-Off Classic, hosted in Cary at WakeMed Soccer Park as well as Middle Creek Park, features some of the best boys soccer teams from across the state — and literally from the mountains to the coast. It’s not uncommon for a matchup to turn into a state title or regional final preview, so narrowing down these games to just the best five matchups is tough.

But we tried anyway.

These five games — which happen to all be on Friday, though there were a few games on Thursday and plenty more to be played early Saturday, have big implications of showing us who is rising to the top in the 3A and 4A classifications.

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No. 5: South Mecklenburg vs. Cardinal Gibbons (Friday, 2 p.m., Field 4)

This one features the last two 4A champions, with South Meck defeating Apex Friendship on PKs a year ago and Gibbons defeating Weddington 1-0 the year prior.

Gibbons has just one match under its belt this year, but a 4-0 win over East Chapel Hill is quite the result. The Crusaders are led by one of the state’s few D1 recruits, Tinaye Madvindize.

South Meck enters at 3-1, having lost 5-1 to rival Charlotte Catholic but regained some of form with an important 2-1 win over Independence. The Sabres return their goal-scorer from last year’s title game, Patrick Dugan.

The Sabres are ranked 15th in the 704 area code while the Crusaders are 16th statewide and fourth in the 919 area code.

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No. 4: Cox Mill vs. Hoggard (Friday, 2 p.m., Field 2)

Both teams are undefeated in the early goings of the season.

Hoggard has played just once this year, but a 6-2 win over Asheboro (it was 0-0 at halftime) was impressive. The Vikings figure to be one of the best in the 4A East with players like Jalen Criss and Clark Beery.

Meanwhile, Cox Mill has not allowed a goal in its 3-0 start to the year. The first two wins were a given, but a 2-0 result against Cuthbertson is a head-turner, and the schedule coming up is BRUTAL: Hoggard, T.C. Roberson, West Forsyth, Grimsley, Hough. And that’s not all: there are nothing but playoff teams on the schedule from now until Oct. 1. Tyler Hiatt is a strong outside back who returns to one of the better defenses in the 4A West a year ago.

Cox Mill hasn’t cracked the 704 area code rankings yet but that could change quickly. Hoggard is tops in the 910 area code and No. 5 in the statewide rankings.

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No. 3: Grimsley vs. Ashley (Friday, 2 p.m., Field 5)

Two top-15 teams meet at the same time games four and five on this list are going on!

Grimsley (2-0-1) played to a 1-1 draw against No. 1 Wesleyan Christian and has since picked up two 2-1 wins. This weekend will show what the Whirlies are made of — Grimsley also has a showdown against Garinger on Saturday. Lee Bailey is a top defender.

The Screaming Eagles’ opening 2-1 record is a bit more spotty. A nice 1-0 win over Leesville Road was almost washed out with a 1-0 loss to Asheboro, and then a 4-3 win over Lumberton. In the case of those Lumberton and Asheboro games, two of Ashley’s conference opponents beat those same teams by 6-2 scores. Did we have Ashley a little too high in preseason, or are they coming around? Nick Cenatiempo, with three goals already, is one to watch.

Grimsley enters the match ranked No. 3 in the state but third in the 336 area code rankings also (tough region). Ashley, ranked No. 11 in the state, is second in the 910 area code.

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No. 2: Jacksonville vs A.C. Reynolds (Friday, 4 p.m., Field 2)

This might be the best shot at a title preview, considering you’re getting two of the best programs in 3A.

A.C. Reynolds (3-0) has won at least 17 matches per season for the last decade-plus (excluding the COVID-modified season of course) and is off to a torrid start. Starting goalkeeper Sage Tanner hasn’t allowed a goal in 180 minutes of action.

Perennial power Jacksonville (3-0-1) has a string of good results to start this year — wins over Croatan, Topsail, and Union Pines plus a 1-1 tie to Laney. The young team is led in points by sophomore Landon Adams.

Neither team is in the state rankings but Reynolds sits fifth in the 828 area code and Jacksonville is fifth in the 910 area code.

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No. 1: Apex Friendship vs. Garinger (Friday, 4 p.m., Field 6)

Considering who and how these teams have already played… this could be fun.

Apex Friendship (4-0) has outscored its opponents 14-1 this season, including back-to-back 1-0 wins over a ranked Chapel Hill team and a defensively-solid Athens Drive. Hayden Joyce is an experienced forward for last year’s 4A state runner-ups.

Garinger (2-0-1) put everyone on notice with a 6-0 ripping of T.C. Roberson to open the season. A 1-1 tie to Marvin Ridge is also nothing to sneer at. Is Garinger a statewide contender this year? The Wildcats are led by play-making midfielder Jeffrey Zabala.

The Patriots are ranked No. 17 in the statewide rankings and fifth in the 919 area code. Garinger is just outside the statewide top 25 but is sixth in the 704 area code.

Source: highschoolot.com