Hough takes a 6-0 record and the state's No. 1 ranking into its Homecoming game against 2-4 Garinger on Friday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. in Huntersville.

The defending Class 8A state champions have outscored opponents 218-33 through six games, according to MaxPreps. The offense is averaging 36 points per game and has cranked that up to 46 per game over the last three contests. The defense has not allowed a single point in back-to-back shutouts of Green Run (45-0 on Sept. 19) and West Mecklenburg (44-0 on Sept. 25).

Senior quarterback Ethan Royal is the engine. Royal, who has committed to Marshall, is averaging 180 yards passing and 33 yards rushing per game this season. In 2025 he accounted for nearly 3,000 total yards and 43 touchdowns across the air and ground, the most combined passing and rushing yards in Class 8A, according to Cornelius Today.

"My mentality and game IQ … That's being able to read defenses faster and setting protections the way they need to be set in order for me to be safe," Royal said in an August preseason profile. "That's where I feel like I've grown the most."

Head coach DeShawn Baker called Royal the championship game MVP, junior running back Jamarion Morrison the offensive MVP and junior linebacker Ryan Peterson the defensive MVP of last season's state title game. Morrison leads the ground attack at 71 rushing yards per game. Peterson anchors the defense with six tackles per game.

Senior receiver Jahmere Anderson paces the passing attack at 53 receiving yards per game and leads the team with five total touchdowns. Lincoln Brim and Mason Pearsall-Brown each add 40 receiving yards per game. On defense, Michael Griffin Jr. has racked up eight sacks, and Sincere Daye has two interceptions.

Garinger enters the game having been held to six points in three of its games this season and having allowed more than 40 points in four, according to Cornelius Today's game preview.

Tickets cost $11 through the GoFan app. The game is listed on the NFHS Network for livestreaming with a subscription, though the network failed to stream Hough's first two games earlier this season.

After the Homecoming game, Hough travels to South Mecklenburg on Friday, Oct. 16, hosts Myers Park on Friday, Oct. 23, and closes the regular season at Hopewell on Friday, Oct. 30.