From staff reports

East Rowan and South Rowan are officially headed to 3A and will be part of the North Piedmont Conference for the 2007-08 school year.

Both schools appealed to be dropped from 4A to 3A because of Jesse Carson’s impact on enrollment, and the NCHSAA has approved the move.

The 4A Central Piedmont Conference has voted to release the Rowan schools and will add North Forsyth as a league member next school year.

The NPC voted to accept East and South for the two school years remaining before the next realignment. The NPC will become a 10-team league with four Rowan schools — East, South, Carson and West.

* New high schools Hickory Ridge (Cabarrus) and Marvin Ridge (Union) will open next fall as members of the 3A South Piedmont Conference.

* Central Cabarrus’ appeal to drop from 4A to 3A was denied.

* All-CCC football announced

North Rowan quarterback Daniel Griffith was runner-up to Ledford QB Michael Blanchard in the voting for CCC Offensive Player of the Year.

Salisbury linebacker Russell Davis was runner-up to East Davidson lineman Jordan Gibson for CCC Defensive Player of the Year.

East Davidson’s Bryan Lingerfelt was named CCC Coach of the Year.

League champion Salisbury placed Davis, kicker Zach Collins, offensive linemen Gordon Witte and Anthony Evans, receiver Anthony Smith, running back Dario Hamilton, defensive backs Boo Blakeney and Nathaniel Neptune, linebacker Brandon Clodfelter and defensive lineman Preston Everhart on the All-CCC team.

North Rowan was represented on the All-CCC team by Griffith, receivers Bryson Gaymon and Lathan Charleston, offensive linemen Daniel Overcash and Steven Hunter, DBs Richie Hinson and Cordell Mitchell, linebacker Chris Johnston and defensive linemen Zach Poole and Grey Walker.

* Clarke shares CCC soccer honor

Salisbury’s Ed Clarke has been named co-player of the year for CCC boys soccer.

Ledford’s J.B. McDowell shared the honor with Clarke.

League champ Salisbury placed Clarke, Ryan Cornelison, Dustin Presnell, Tim Desch and Randy Almeida on the All-CCC team.

North placed Marlon Osorio, Jesus Olvera and Antonio Almazon on the team.

* Davie basketball sweeps Devils

Davie County’s boys basketball team beat Mooresville 68-59 on Wednesday.

Davie (2-2) got a career game — 27 points, nine rebounds and five blocks — from Darius Hall.

Guards Drew Absher and Eric Lowery combined for 28 points and 11 assists.

Joni Garrett scored 11 points to lead Davie’s girls to a 62-44 win over the Blue Devils.

* South-Davie swim meet

South Rowan and Davie County swimmers competed at the South YMCA on Wednesday.

The Raider boys won.

Tyler Hoke (200), James Goodnight (200 IM), Taylor Deyton (50 free) and Cody Buchanan (100 free, 100 back) had first-place finishes.

Davie’s girls topped the Raiders.

* East jayvee girls win

Madalyn File scored 20 points to lead East Rowan’s jayvee girls basketball team to a 47-37 win over North Rowan in their opener. Mackenzie Holshouser added 15 points for the Mustangs.

Symphony Roberts led the Cavaliers with 10 points.

* East wrestlers 4-0

East Rowan’s wrestling team is off to a 4-0 start with wins over South Stanly (63-15), South Davidson (40-35), Carson (66-15) and Salisbury (70-6).

C.J. Gordy, Coleton Boone, Wayne Parker, Aaron Plyler, Josh Greer, Alex Lawson, Chase Burris, Seth Stevenson, Aaron French and Josiah Hurt had pins against South Stanly. Jeremy Earnhardt won by decision.

Parker, French, Boone, Gordy, Lawson and Travis Gobble had pins against South Davidson. Burris won by decision.

French, Parker, Boone, Greer, Burris, Lawson, Earnhardt, Gobble and Ben DeCelle had pins against Carson.

French, Parker, Greer, DeCelle, Stevenson, Lawson, Earnhardt, Thomas Lowe and Joe Knox had pins against Salisbury. Plyler won by decision.

Gordy took first place in a tournament at Glenn. Boone and Plyler placed third in the event.

* South awards banquet

South Rowan will holds its fall athletic awards banquet at 7 p.m. this evening in the auditorium.

* North Hills varsity basketball

The North Hills varsity girls basketball team beat Hayworth 35-8. Catherine Ardoin led the Eagles with eight points. Christina Gobble had seven points. Skarlett Ross added six.

The North Hills varsity boys team beat Hayworth 63-32. Travis Williams scored 18 points for the Eagles. Josh Richardson (16 points), Robert Powell (10) and Wade Butner (eight) were other leaders.

* Williams in double figures

Phillip Williams (West Rowan) scored 11 points in Winthrop’s 76-51 win over Presbyterian.

* Pfeiffer athletics

Pfeiffer’s men’s basketball team is ranked 18th nationally in Division II.

Pfeiffer (4-0) plays at home tonight against CVAC rival Belmont Abbey.

* Pfeiffer’s Laura Crews made the all-region first team for women’s soccer.