Just look at last week’s 1999 season openers:

• West Rowan, in a 53-0 romp over Salisbury, set a school record for points and winning margin in a season opener. The Falcons of Coach Scott Young scored the most points by a West team since 1974.
• North Rowan’s Cavaliers, making the longest season-opening road trip in school history, didn’t get to finish their game with tough 4A Scotland County because of lightning. The 2A Cavs impressed fans in Laurinburg, about 100 miles away, by keeping it close at 22-12.
• East Rowan’s Mustangs showed they have the potential for a fourth straight 3A playoff berth in a 28-7 victory over South Rowan.
• South’s Raiders didn’t beat favored East, but outplayed the Mustangs for much of the first half. Four turnovers proved costly to South, but the Raiders still showed they could be much improved over 2-9 in 1998.
• Salisbury, on a negative note, set a school record for points allowed and losing margin.
• North Stanly running back O.J. Owens scored an amazing six first-half touchdowns before an injury in the Comets’ 38-25 win over Garinger.
• Davie County had only four first downs but still downed Statesville 17-6.

Last week’s high school prediction record was 11-1 for a percentage of .917. I didn’t get credit for picking Davie over Statesville because of a problem with the new computer system.

This week’s choices:

North’s Cavaliers have won the last seven meetings with East, but the Mustangs usually make it interesting. It shapes up as North’s speed vs. East’s power —North Rowan 22, East Rowan 14.

West Rowan hasn’t made the playoffs since 1994, but the Falcons are aiming for one of the South Piedmont Conference’s three berths this year. South will be trying to whip the Falcons a second straight year — West Rowan 27, South Rowan 21.

Tough Albemarle, one of the top 1A teams in the state, visits rebuilding Salisbury. The Hornets will be facing a second straight powerful offense — Albemarle 49, Salisbury 6.

The Kannapolis Brown Wonders start their season at home against Statesville’s Greyhounds, who are in for a long night — Kannapolis 21, Statesville 0.

Mooresville has only a few returning starters, but the Blue Devils of Mike Carter just keep reloading — Mooresville 28, Davie County 14.

North Stanly’s Comets hit the road to play county rival South Stanly, which should be no match for Robert Harris’ club — North Stanly 35, South Stanly 12.