Northern Nash has seized the top spot in HighSchoolOT's preseason 252 football rankings, edging out the defending 2A state champion Tarboro. The announcement marks a significant shift in the early outlook for the upcoming season, highlighting the rising momentum of the Northern Nash program.
The 252 designation encompasses a swath of eastern and northeastern North Carolina, covering 27 counties that stretch from the coastal plains to the Piedmont foothills. This region includes Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, Vance, Warren, Washington, and Wilson, creating a deep pool of talent and competition.
Ranking Scope and Sponsorship
State Employees' Credit Union sponsors the rankings, underscoring a partnership that ties a major North Carolina financial institution to high school athletics. The sponsorship not only provides financial support but also adds a layer of community engagement, encouraging local fans to follow the preseason developments.
HighSchoolOT releases two parallel sets of rankings: a statewide Top 25 and separate top‑15 lists for each of North Carolina's six area codes. This structure allows teams to be measured against regional peers while still being considered for overall statewide honors, giving the 252 rankings a focused yet broader context.
Implications for the Upcoming Season
Coaches and analysts view the No. 1 placement as a signal of strong preseason preparation, but also as a target that will attract heightened competition from rivals such as Greene County and Wilson. The ranking positions Northern Nash as a frontrunner, yet the preseason nature of the list means that weekly updates will track how the team responds to early challenges.
The full rankings, including historical weekly comparisons, are available at the bottom of the article for readers who wish to track movement over time. As the season progresses, the early hierarchy set by these preseason polls will likely influence playoff seedings, conference standings, and ultimately the narrative surrounding North Carolina high school football.