Seven-time defending 4-AA champion Independence tops the list going into opening night.
These are 14 high school football teams to watch heading into Friday Night Football on Aug. 17:
1. Independence
2. Garner
3. Grimsley
4. Shelby
5. Leesville Road
6. Concord
7. Athens Drive
8. Butler
9. Western Alamance
10. Seventy-First
11. Charlotte Latin
12. WF-Rolesville
13. Crest
14. Durham Jordan
To see highlights from your area and from around the state, join Jim Connors and Mike Solarte every Friday night at 11 p.m. for Friday Night Final. The show replays at 11 a.m. Saturday.