​Since North Carolina began recognizing high school football championships when the NCHSAA was established in 1913, many have been crowned.The first three state titles were claimed by Raleigh, when the playoffs were open and only one champion was recognized. Then came the NCHSAA’s early classification era that ran from 1929-40, with programs competing for state titles in Class A and Class B.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn 1941, the NCHSAA went to a three-class system plus six-man football, and in 1959 it expanded to four classes.Notably, in the years from 1961-71, regional champions were crowned with no individual statewide champion, therefore titles won in those years are not officially recognized by the NCHSAA. If they were, the state’s championship-winningest program would have three more.Reidsville’s 21 official NCHSAA titles balloon to 24 when you add their regional banners from the years when no state titles were awarded — 1963 as 3A co-champion, 1969-70 as back-to-back 3A West champion.The four-class era, which lasted 50 years, started in 1972. From 2002-21, each of those four classes were split into A and AA, with eight total state trophies handed out. The single-champion model returned in 2022, and in 2025 the NCHSAA implemented an eight-class system.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHeading into 2026-27, let’s take a look at the programs who own the most NCHSAA football championships.Reidsville — 21 — 1930 (Class B); 1931 (Class B); 1932 (Class B); 1937 (Class B); 1939 (Class B); 1940 (Class B); 1943 (Class A co-champion); 1945 (Class A); 1950 (2A); 1954 (2A); 2002 (2AA); 2003 (2AA); 2007 (2AA); 2008 (2AA); 2009 (2AA); 2016 (2A); 2018 (2A); 2019 (2A); 2020 (2A); 2023 (2A); 2025 (4A)Robbinsville — 14 — 1969 (1A); 1970 (1A); 1973 (1A); 1974 (1A); 1976 (1A); 1977 (1A); 1979 (1A); 1980 (1A); 1981 (1A); 1982 (1A); 1983 (1A); 1992 (1A); 2014 (1A); 2019 (1A)Shelby — 13 — 1986 (3A); 1987 (3A); 1998 (2A); 2005 (2AA); 2006 (2AA); 2013 (2A); 2014 (2A); 2015 (2A); 2016 (2AA); 2018 (2AA); 2019 (2AA); 2021 (2A); 2025 (3A)Garinger — 10 — 1916 (all classes); 1917 (all classes); 1923 (all classes); 1929 (Class A); 1930 (Class A); 1932 (Class A); 1936 (Class A); 1937 (Class A); 1943 (Class AA); 1959 (4A)Murphy — 10 — 1974 (2A); 1986 (1A); 1987 (1A); 1991 (1A); 1996 (1A); 2011 (1A); 2013 (1A); 2016 (1A); 2018 (1A); 2020 (1A)Grimsley — 10 — 1934 (Class A co-champion); 1938 (Class A co-champion); 1940 (Class A); 1942 (Class AA); 1954 (3A); 1956 (3A co-champion); 1960 (3A); 2020 (4A); 2024 (4A); 2025 (7A)Tarboro — 10 — 1984 (3A); 2009 (2A); 2010 (2A); 2011 (2A); 2017 (1AA); 2018 (1AA); 2020 (1AA); 2021 (1A); 2024 (1A); 2025 (2A)Swain County — 8 — 1979 (2A); 1985 (1A); 1988 (1A); 1989 (1A); 1990 (1A); 2001 (1A); 2004 (1A); 2011 (1AA)Crest — 7 — 994 (4A); 1996 (4A); 2003 (3AA); 2004 (3AA); 2014 (3A); 2015 (3AA); 2025 (5A)Independence — 7 —2000 (4A); 2001 (4A); 2002 (4AA); 2003 (4AA); 2004 (4AA); 2005 (4AA