The 2026 Four Rivers 3A/4A Conference football season is set to begin with high expectations, and all eyes are on Eastern Randolph, the team that captured the conference title last year and reached the state semifinal before falling to Shelby 43‑41. The Wildcats finished the previous campaign with a 10‑plus win streak, a feat that has become routine over the past five seasons, and they enter the new year as the clear favorite to repeat.
Key Storylines
Headlining the Wildcats’ return is senior quarterback Cade McCallum, who threw for 1,863 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2025, and linebacker James Combs, the Four Rivers defensive player of the year. Running back Kobe Walker added 942 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, while receiver Cainan Glover led the team with eight receiving scores. The offense will also lean on Nathan Garner, the returning all‑conference back for Southwestern Randolph, who will face Eastern Randolph in a key matchup.
Eastern Randolph’s schedule promises tough tests, including home games against 6A powerhouses Southern Alamance and Union Pines, while Jordan‑Matthews will host Carrboro and Chatham Central in what could be a pivotal stretch. North Moore, looking to rebound after a last‑place finish in 2025, is being touted as a breakout candidate, and Northwood’s dual‑threat quarterback Finn Sullivan, who logged 227 passing yards and two touchdowns last season, will add another layer of intrigue.
The broader conference landscape features a mix of seasoned programs and rising teams. Southwestern Randolph returns seven of its ten all‑conference selections, giving them depth that could challenge the traditional powers. Meanwhile, Jordan‑Matthews’ Kamone Hadley combined for 614 passing yards and 314 rushing yards last year, positioning him as a dual‑threat weapon for the 2026 campaign.
Predictions point to a tight race for the playoff bracket, with North Moore, Northwood and Southwestern Randolph all projected to make deep runs if they can stay healthy. The emergence of breakout players like Stryker Murray of North Moore, who topped the team with 690 rushing yards and 170 receiving yards, adds another layer of unpredictability to the season.