Here are the nominees for The Observer's high school football defensive player of the week. The poll closes Friday at noon. Vote now. Vote often. Vote at link below charlotteobserver.com/sports…

TALKING PREPS: The Week 9 high school preview show On tap ➡️Mr. Football semifinalists announced ➡️What should teams be trying to accomplish with three weeks left in the regular season? ➡️NCHSAA not bringing state finals to Charlotte again. Should they? ➡️We discuss a referee who puts his hands on a player last week. ➡️Sam updates his Husky Hill and Buck walks biggest college and pro football surprises, plus best and worst teams. THE NC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK We highlight: 🏈William Alt, Charlotte Latin 🏈Ra'cere Bruton, North Stanly 🏈Seth Belote, Hickory Grove 🏈Ja'Braylan Patterson, West Iredell (live in studio) 🏈Aury Greenfield, Jay M. Robinson 🏈Bryson Gray, Millbrook 🏈Ayden Hoffler, Middle Creek 🏈Gavin Bronikowski, Providence Day (live in studio) THE TALKING PREPS INTERVIEW Cam sits down with Mallard Creek junior LB Isaiah Johnson, who averages more than 11 tackles per game and visited NC A&T Saturday. NC GAMES OF THE WEEK STATEWIDE/REGIONAL SE Raleigh (6-2) at Cleveland (6-1) Page (7-0) at Grimsley (7-0) J.M. Robinson (7-0) at West Rowan (6-1) Northeastern (7-1) at Hertford Co. (5-2) East Lincoln (7-1) at Hickory (6-2) Northern Nash (5-2) at Hunt (7-0) South Point (7-1) at Kings Mountain (6-1) Stuart Cramer (5-2) at Lincolnton (6-2) Mountain Heritage (5-2) at Mitchell (5-2) Enka (7-0) at T.C. Roberson (5-2) CHARLOTTE-AREA Hickory Ridge (6-1) at A.L. Brown (7-0) Community School of Davidson (5-2) at Corvian (6-1) Butler (4-3) at West Charlotte (4-3) Palisades (6-1) at Providence (3-4) Berry (3-4) at Central Cabarrus (1-6) COACH VS COACH 1. What do you miss most about playing football as a player? 2. What is the most important “character trait “ in a high school football player? 3. Who has the best football uniform? 4. What is your “bucket list “ football game to go to? @Wi11iam_A1t @CLS_Hawks @RacereBruton @NorthstanlyFB @SethBelote @hickorygrove_fb @JabraylanPatt @WIHS_Football @Aury_Greenfield @JMRFootball @thebrysongray @MBrookFootball @Ayden_Hoffler_1 @MiddleCreekFB @GavinB_QB @ChadGrier_ @PDS_ChargersFB @Bulldog_Recruit @cvhsftbl @PageHighFB @grimsleyfb @WRowan_Football @RedRaiders @KMHS_Athletics @StuartCramerFB @LincolntonFB @Enkajetfootball @RaginRidgeFB @ALBrownFootball @CSD_athletics @butlerbulldogs @DubCFootball @PalisadesFB @One_Prov_Sports @BerryFootballNC @coachSamGreiner @JustCoachHales @faithbeforefame @garyrichmond3 @DaleRoss

7-0. Down goes Hickory! I went 15 of 21 193yds passing. 2 TDS. @FB_CoachFitz @WIHS_Football @langstonwertzjr @PrepRedzoneNC @pepman704 @HighSchoolOT @SWiltfong_ @AnnaH247 @DonCallahanIC @brady_bp @NickPetrinoCCU @L_Armstrong3 @Coach_Fishback @rileywatkins0 @Dowell_Loggains @MikeAnthony14 @DannyOBrienQB @Coach_Moyseenko @MattKubik @CoachCParrott @ChrisReynolds_3 @TomLoy247 @ChadSimmons_ @CoachTFitch @CoachKurtRoper @kendalbriles @JordanDavisECU @CoachDanEnos @adamgorney

Here are the nominees for The Observer's high school football offensive player of the week. The poll closes Friday at noon. Vote now. Vote often. Vote at link below charlotteobserver.com/sports…

After a great conversation with @CoachPolis _ I'm excited to announce my first offer from Thiel College !! @Thiel_FB @Coachsbauman @CoachPolis @Coach_MoDLG @WIHS_Football @FB_CoachFitz @behrendt_colton @CoachScherer