9-26-25 roundup: Pro baseball, football, soccer and basketball, College football and basketball, High school football, basketball and baseball, boys soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball, Middle school football, softball and golf, Auto racing

By Richard Walker

Ashbrook and East Lincoln remained the area’s lone unbeaten after week 6 of the 2025 high school football season.

Here are the results/upcoming schedule for Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties:

(Friday, Sept. 26)
Ashbrook 44, North Gaston 0
Forestview at Crest, suspended to Monday at 6:30 p.m. with Crest leading 7-0 in 1st quarter
South Point 53, Huss 6
East Gaston 42, Bessemer City 12
Shelby 51, Cramer 29
Lincolnton 56, Highland Tech 0
Burns 47, West Lincoln 19
East Lincoln 57, Bunker Hill 0
Hickory 49, North Lincoln 6
Corvian Community 52, Lincoln Charter 6
Mountain Island Charter 14, Albemarle 0
Idle – Cherryville, Kings Mountain

(Friday, Oct. 3)
Forestview at Huss
North Gaston at Kings Mountain
South Point at Crest
Bessemer City at Lincolnton
Burns at Cramer
East Gaston at Highland Tech
West Lincoln at Cherryville
East Lincoln at West Iredell
North Lincoln at Newton-Conover
Lincoln Charter at Langtree Charter
Mountain Island Charter at Thomas Jefferson
Idle – Ashbrook, Shelby

(Friday, Oct. 10)
Crest at Huss
Kings Mountain at Ashbrook
South Point at North Gaston
Cramer at West Lincoln
East Gaston at Cherryville
Highland Tech at Bessemer City
Shelby at Lincolnton
Bandys at North Lincoln
Foard at East Lincoln
Lincoln Charter at Community School of Davidson
Union Academy at Mountain Island Charter
Idle – Burns, Forestview

(Friday, Oct. 17)
Ashbrook at Forestview
Kings Mountain at South Point
North Gaston at Crest
Cherryville at Burns
Lincolnton at Cramer
Shelby at East Gaston
Highland Tech at West Lincoln
Hickory at East Lincoln
Cone Leadership at Mountain Island Charter
Idle – Bessemer City, Huss, Lincoln Charter, North Lincoln

(Friday, Oct. 24)
Crest at Ashbrook
Forestview at South Point
Huss at Kings Mountain
Bessemer City at Shelby
Cramer at Cherryville
Burns at Highland Tech
West Lincoln at East Gaston
East Lincoln at Maiden
North Lincoln at Bunker Hill
Lincoln Charter at Pine Lake Prep
Mountain Island Charter at South Stanly
Idle – Lincolnton, North Gaston

(Thursday, Oct. 30)
North Rowan at Mountain Island Charter

(Friday, Oct. 31)
Ashbrook at Huss
Crest at Kings Mountain
North Gaston at Forestview
Burns at Shelby
Cherryville at Bessemer City
Cramer at East Gaston
Lincolnton at West Lincoln
Foard at North Lincoln
Lake Norman Charter at Lincoln Charter
South Point at Ambassador Christian
Idle – East Lincoln, Highland Tech

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

With renovation work ongoing at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center, the Charlotte Hornets will hold 2025 training camp at McAlister Fieldhouse on the campus of The Citadel in Charleston, S.C.

Practices will be held Tuesday through Oct. 4.

The Charlotte Hornets 2025 preseason schedule:

Sunday, Oct. 5 Oklahoma City (at North Charleston Coliseum), 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 9 at Oklahoma City, TBD
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 15 Memphis (at First Horizon Coliseum, Greensboro), 7:00 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 17 at New York, 7:30 p.m.

The Charlotte Hornets full 2025-26 regular season schedule:

OCTOBER
Wednesday 22 BROOKLYN, 7 p.m.
Saturday 25 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday 26 at Washington 6 p.m.
Tuesday 28 at Miami 7:30 p.m.
Thursday 30 ORLANDO 7 p.m.
NOVEMBER
Saturday 1 MINNESOTA 6:00 p.m.
Sunday 2 UTAH 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 4 at New Orleans 8:00 p.m.
Friday 7 at Miami* 8:00 p.m.
Monday 10 L.A. LAKERS 7:00 p.m.
Wed. 12 MILWAUKEE 7:00 p.m.
Friday 14 at Milwaukee* 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 15 OKLAHOMA CITY 7:00 p.m.
Monday 17 at Toronto 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday 19 at Indiana 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 22 LA CLIPPERS 1:00 p.m.
Sunday 23 at Atlanta 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday 26 NEW YORK* 7:00 p.m.
Friday 28 CHICAGO* 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 29 TORONTO 6:00 p.m.
DECEMBER
Monday 1 at Brooklyn 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday 3 at New York 7:30 p.m.
Friday 5 at Toronto 7:30 p.m.
Sunday 7 DENVER 6:00 p.m.
9-16 Two games TBD**
Thursday 18 ATLANTA 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 20 at Detroit 7:30 p.m.
Monday 22 at Cleveland 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday 23 WASHINGTON 7:00 p.m.
Friday 26 at Orlando 7:00 p.m.
Monday 29 MILWAUKEE 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday 31 GOLDEN STATE 1:00 p.m.
JANUARY
Friday 2 at Milwaukee 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 3 at Chicago 8:00 p.m.
Monday 5 at Oklahoma City 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday 7 TORONTO 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 8 INDIANA 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 10 at Utah 9:30 p.m.
Monday 12 at LA Clippers 10:30 p.m.
Thursday 15 at L.A. Lakers 10:30 p.m.
Saturday 17 at Golden State 8:30 p.m.
Sunday 18 at Denver 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday 21 CLEVELAND 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 22 at Orlando 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 24 WASHINGTON 6:00 p.m.
Monday 26 PHILADELPHIA 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday 28 at Memphis 8:00 p.m.
Thursday 29 at Dallas 8:30 p.m.
Saturday 31 SAN ANTONIO 3:00 p.m.
FEBRUARY
Monday 2 NEW ORLEANS 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 5 at Houston 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 7 at Atlanta 7:30 p.m.
Monday 9 DETROIT 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday 11 ATLANTA 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 19 HOUSTON 7:00 p.m.
Friday 20 CLEVELAND 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 22 at Washington 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 24 at Chicago 8:00 p.m.
Thursday 26 at Indiana 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 28 PORTLAND 1:00 p.m.
MARCH
Tuesday 3 DALLAS 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday 4 at Boston 7:30 p.m.
Friday 6 MIAMI 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 8 at Phoenix 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday 10 at Portland 10:00 p.m.
Wednesday 11 at Sacramento 10:00 p.m.
Saturday 14 at San Antonio 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday 17 MIAMI 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 19 ORLANDO 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 21 MEMPHIS 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 24 SACRAMENTO 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 26 NEW YORK 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 28 PHILADELPHIA 6:00 p.m.
Sunday 30 BOSTON 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 31 at Brooklyn 7:30 p.m.
APRIL
Thursday 2 PHOENIX 7:00 p.m.
Friday 3 INDIANA 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 5 at Minnesota 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday 7 at Boston 7:30 p.m.
Friday 10 DETROIT 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 12 at New York 6:00 p.m.

Home games in CAPS
All times listed are Eastern
* Denotes Emirates NBA Cup Group Play game
Schedule to be announced following Emirates NBA Cup Group Play: Dec. 9, 10, 13, 16- Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Rounds, Dec. 11, 12, 14, 15- Additional regular-season games for eliminated teams

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro football

The Carolina Panthers’ 2025 schedule:

-Preseason
Friday, Aug. 8 Cleveland Browns (L 10-30)
Saturday, Aug. 16 at Houston Texans (L 3-20)
Thursday, Aug. 21 Pittsburgh Steelers (L 10-19)

-Regular season
Sunday, Sept. 7 at Jacksonville Jaguars (L 10-26)
Sunday, Sept. 14 at Arizona Cardinals (L 22-27)
Sunday, Sept. 21 Atlanta Falcons (W 30-0)
Sunday, Sept. 28 at New England Patriots, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 5 Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 12 Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 19 at New York Jets, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 26 Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 2 at Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 9 New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 16 at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 24 at San Francisco 49ers, 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 30 Los Angeles Rams, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 7 BYE WEEK
Sunday, Dec. 14 at New Orleans Saints, 4:25 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 21 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m.
Week 17 TBA, Dec. 25-29 Seattle Seahawks, TBA
Week 18 TBA, Jan. 3-4 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, TBA

 

 

 

 

 

Middle school football

Gaston County Conference standings thru Sept. 24:

-Division I Div. All PF-PA
Belmont 3-0 5-0 175-32
Holbrook 3-1 5-1 164-67
Grier 1-2 3-2 108-64
Southwest 1-2 2-3 70-36
Cramerton 0-3 0-5 36-142
-Division II Div. All PF-PA
Stanley 4-0 6-0 172-36
York Chester 3-1 4-2 190-60
Mount Holly 3-1 3-2 107-95
Chavis 1-3 1-5 38-226
Bessemer City 0-4 0-5 14-180
W.C. Friday 1-3 1-5 58-194

(Wednesday, September 24)
York Chester 32, Mount Holly 0
Grier 8, Southwest 6
Holbrook 38, Cramerton 6
Stanley 44, Chavis 8
W.C. Friday 28, Bessemer City 8
BYE – Belmont

(Wednesday, October 1)
Stanley at Mount Holly, Belmont at Southwest, Grier at Cramerton, York Chester at Bessemer City, W.C. Friday at Chavis,
BYE – Holbrook

(Wednesday, October 8)
County Championship: Stanley, York Chester or Mount Holly at Belmont

Tri-County Conference standings thru Sept. 24:

-East Div. All PF-PA
Burns 4-0 5-0 158-44
Kings Mountain 4-0 5-0 138-12
Lincolnton 2-2 2-2 82-105
East Lincoln 1-3 2-3 66-86
West Lincoln 1-3 2-3 62-84
North Lincoln 0-4 1-4 41-110
-West Div. All PF-PA
Crest 3-0 4-1 131-74
Shelby 3-0 4-1 145-40
East Rutherford 2-2 2-3 102-107
Chase 0-3 1-3 44-140
R-S Central 0-3 0-4 14-130

(Wednesday, September 24)
Kings Mountain 38, Lincolnton 12
Burns 32, North Lincoln 0
East Lincoln 14, West Lincoln 0
Shelby 40, Chase 8
BYE – Crest

(Thursday, September 25)
East Rutherford 28, R-S Central 8

(Tuesday, September 30)
Chase at R-S Central

(Wednesday, October 1)
Burns at Kings Mountain, North Lincoln at East Lincoln, West Lincoln at Lincolnton, Shelby at Crest, BYE – East Rutherford

(Wednesday, October 8)
Semifinals- West-2 at East-1, East-2 at West-1

(Wednesday, October 15)
Championship game at West

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle school softball

Gaston County Conference standings thru Sept. 25:

Chavis 8-0
Belmont 6-2
Stanley 6-2
Mount Holly 5-3
Bessemer City 4-4
Cramerton 3-5
W.C. Friday 3-5
Holbrook 1-7
Southwest 0-8

(Thursday, September 25)
Chavis 19, Stanley 14
Cramerton 23, Southwest 6
Mount Holly 13, W.C. Friday 3
BYEs – Belmont, Bessemer City, Holbrook

(Monday, September 29)
Semifinals: No. 4 (Mount Holly) at No. 1 (Chavis), No. 3 (Stanley) at No. 2 (Belmont)
(Thursday, October 2)
Finals: Semifinals winner at highest remaining seed

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle school golf

Gaston County Conference schedule:

(Thursday, September 25)
At Pine Island- W.C. Friday (host) 216, Holbrook 228, Bessemer City 228, York Chester no score: W.C. Friday’s Kaden Lewis shot a 51 tp earn individual medalist honors.

(Tuesday, September 30)
County championship at Cherryville CC

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro soccer

The Charlotte FC MLS team’s 2025 schedule:

(17-12-2 record)
Saturday, Feb. 22 at Seattle (T 2-2)
Saturday, March 1 Atlanta (W 2-0)
Sunday, March 9 at Miami (L 0-1)
Saturday, March 15 Cincinnati (W 2-0)
Saturday, March 22 San Jose (W 4-1)
Saturday, March 29 at Colorado (L 0-2)
Saturday, April 5 Nashville (W 2-1)
Saturday, April 12 at Montreal (W 1-0)
Saturday, April 19 San Diego (W 3-0)
Saturday, April 26 New England (L 0-1)
Saturday, May 3 at Columbus (L 2-4)
Saturday, May 10 at Nashville (L 1-2)
Wednesday, May 14 at Orlando (L 1-3)
Saturday, May 17 Chicago (L 1-4)
Saturday, May 24 Columbus (W 3-2)
Wednesday, May 28 at NY Red Bulls (L 2-4)
Saturday, May 31 at Toronto (W 2-0)
Saturday, June 14 at Philadelphia (L 1-2)
Wednesday, June 25 at Kansas City (L 1-2)
Saturday, June 28 at Chicago (L 2-3)
Saturday, July 5 Orlando (T 2-2)
Saturday, July 12 New York (W 2-0)
Wednesday, July 16 DC (W 2-1)
Saturday, July 19 at Atlanta (W 3-2)
Saturday, July 26 Toronto (W 2-0)
Sunday, Aug. 10 at Cincinnati (W 1-0)
Saturday, Aug. 16 Real Salt Lake (W 1-0)
Sunday, Aug. 24 NY Red Bulls (W 1-0)
Saturday, Aug. 30 at New England (W 2-1)
Saturday, Sept. 13 Miami (W 3-0)
Saturday, Sept. 20 at New York (L 0-2)
Saturday, Sept. 27 Montreal 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 4 at DC 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 18 Philadelphia 6 p.m.

(U.S. Open Cup 2025)
Tuesday, May 6 North Carolina FC (W 4-1)
Wednesday, May 21 at D.C. United (L 3-3, 1-2 penalty kicks)

(Leagues Cup 2025)
Thursday, July 31 FC Juárez (L 1-4)
Sunday, Aug. 3 C.D. Guadalajara (L 2-2, 2-4 penalty kicks)
Thursday, Aug. 7 C.F. Monterrey (W 2-0)

 

 

 

 

 

 

College football

Here are the Carolinas’ NCAA Division I football results/schedule:

(Thursday, Sept. 18)
Rice 28, Charlotte 17

(Saturday, Sept. 20)
South Florida 63, S.C. State 14
Syracuse 34, Clemson 21
Virginia Tech 38, Wofford 6
Presbyterian 76, Bluefield 3
Mercer 38, The Citadel 0
Western Carolina 50, Samford 35
Ohio U. 52, Gardner-Webb 35
Central Florida 34, North Carolina 9
William & Mary 34, Charleston Southern 7
N.C. Central 62, North Carolina A&T 20
Duke 45, N.C. State 33
East Tennessee State 20, Elon 10
Campbell 50, Bryant 48 (2 OT)
Coastal Carolina 38, South Alabama 20
Davidson 48, Greensboro College 0
Missouri 29, South Carolina 20
BYU 34, East Carolina 13

(Thursday, Sept. 25)
East Carolina 28, Army 6

(Saturday, Sept. 27)
Duke at Syracuse, noon
Georgia Tech at Wake Forest, noon
Morehead State at Presbyterian, 1 p.m.
Hampton at Elon, 2 p.m.
Furman at Samford, 3:30 p.m.
North Carolina A&T at Maine, 3:30 p.m.
Western Carolina at Campbell, 3:30 p.m.
The Citadel at Chattanooga, 6 p.m.
S.C. State at Charleston Southern, 6 p.m.
N.C. Central at East Texas A&M, 7 p.m.
Virginia Tech at N.C. State, 7 p.m.
Appalachian State at Boise State, 7:30 p.m.
Kentucky at South Carolina, 7:45 p.m.

(Friday, Oct. 3)
Charlotte at South Florida, 7 p.m.

(Saturday, Oct. 4)
Clemson at North Carolina, noon
Davidson at Stetson, 1 p.m.
Charleston Southern at Gardner-Webb, 1:30 p.m.
Wake Forest at Virginia Tech, 1 p.m.
Savannah State at S.C. State, 1:30 p.m.
Western Carolina at Wofford, 1:30 p.m.
Campbell at N.C. State, 2 p.m.
North Carolina A&T at William & Mary, 3:30 p.m.
Elon at Towson, 4 p.m.
Coastal Carolina at Old Dominion, 6 p.m.
Duke at California, 10:30 p.m.

(Thursday, Oct. 9)
East Carolina at Tulane, 7:30 p.m.

(Saturday, Oct. 11)
Charlotte at Army, noon
Presbyterian at Butler, 1 p.m.
St. Thomas-Minnesota at Davidson, 1 p.m.
S.C. State at North Carolina A&T, 1 p.m.
Norfolk State at Wofford, 1:30 p.m.
Campbell at Hampton, 2 p.m.
Valdosta State at The Citadel, 2 p.m.
Villanova at Elon, 2 p.m.
Furman at Western Carolina, 2:30 p.m.
Gardner-Webb at Eastern Illinois, 3 p.m.
N.C. State at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m.
Wake Forest at Oregon State, 3:30 p.m.
Tennessee Tech at Charleston Southern, 4 p.m.
Appalachian State at Georgia State, TBD
Clemson at Boston College, TBD
N.C. Central at Florida A&M, TBD
UL Monroe at Coastal Carolina, TBD
South Carolina at LSU, TBD

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro baseball

-Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Playoffs

SOUTH DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP (Best-of-5)
Sept. 20 at Gastonia – Gastonia 6-4
Sept. 21 at Gastonia – High Point 8-5
Sept. 23 at High Point – High Point 6-2
Sept. 24 at High Point – Gastonia 4-2
Sept. 25 at High Point – High Point 8-1 (High Point wins series 3-2)

NORTH DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP (Best-of-5): Lancaster vs. York
Sept. 20 at York – York 6-2
Sept. 21 at York – York 4-3
Sept. 23 at Lancaster – York 6-3 (York wins series 3-0)

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (Best-of-5): Gastonia-High Point winner vs. York
Sept. 27 at York, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 at York, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 30 at High Point, 7 p.m.
Oct. 1 (if necessary) at High Point, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 (if necessary) at High Point, 7 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

Auto racing

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Playoff Field was set on Aug. 23 and is comprised of the following: Denny Hamlin (4 wins)
Shane van Gisbergen (4 wins), Kyle Larson (3 wins), Christopher Bell (3 wins), William Byron (2 wins), Ryan Blaney (2 wins),
Chase Elliott (2 wins), Chase Briscoe (1 win), Bubba Wallace (1 win), Joey Logano (1 win), Ross Chastain (1 win), Austin Cindric (1 win), Josh Berry (1 win), Austin Dillon (1 win), Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman.

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule with * indicating the in-season tournament and # including the playoffs:

Date Race / Track Broadcast partner Winner
Feb. 2 Clash at Bowman Gray FOX Sports (Chase Elliott)
Feb. 16 Daytona 500 FOX Sports (William Byron)
Feb. 23 Atlanta FOX Sports (Christopher Bell)
March 2 Circuit of The Americas FOX Sports (Bell-2)
March 9 Phoenix FOX Sports (Bell-3)
March 16 Las Vegas FOX Sports (Josh Berry)
March 23 Homestead-Miami FOX Sports (Kyle Larson)
March 30 Martinsville FOX Sports (Denny Hamlin)
April 6 Darlington FOX Sports (Hamlin-2)
April 13 Bristol FOX Sports (Larson-2)
April 20 Off
April 27 Talladega FOX Sports (Austin Cindric)
May 4 Texas FOX Sports (Joey Logano)
May 11 Kansas FOX Sports (Larson-3)
May 18 North Wilkesboro (ASR) FOX Sports (Bell-4)
May 25 Charlotte Prime Video (Ross Chastain)
June 1 Nashville Prime Video (Ryan Blaney)
June 8 Michigan Prime Video (Hamlin-2)
June 15 Mexico City Prime Video (Shane van Gisbergen)
June 22 Pocono Prime Video (Chase Briscoe)
June 28 (Sat.) Atlanta * TNT Sports (Elliott-2)
July 6 Chicago * TNT Sports (van Gisbergen-2)
July 13 Sonoma * TNT Sports (van Gisbergen-3)
July 20 Dover * TNT Sports (Hamlin-3)
July 27 Indianapolis * TNT Sports (Bubba Wallace)
Aug. 3 Iowa NBC Sports (Byron-2)
Aug. 10 Watkins Glen NBC Sports (van Gisbergen-4)
Aug. 16 (Sat.) Richmond NBC Sports (Austin Dillon)
Aug. 23 (Sat.) Daytona NBC Sports (Blaney-2)
Aug. 31 Darlington # NBC Sports (Briscoe-2)
Sept. 7 World Wide Tech Raceway # NBC Sports (Hamlin-4)
Sept. 13 (Sat.) Bristol # NBC Sports (Bell-5)
Sept. 21 New Hampshire # NBC Sports (Blaney-3)
Sept. 28 Kansas # NBC Sports
Oct. 5 Charlotte Roval # NBC Sports
Oct. 12 Las Vegas # NBC Sports
Oct. 19 Talladega # NBC Sports
Oct. 26 Martinsville # NBC Sports
Nov. 2 Phoenix Championship # NBC Sports