* Time: 7:30 p.m.
* 2007 records: South Rowan 3-8; Salisbury 9-4
* Series: Salisbury leads 12-6
* Last meeting: Salisbury beat the Raiders 20-13 in 2007
* Next week: South faces A.L. Brown at Memorial Stadium; Salisbury is at home against East Rowan
* Game notes: Itís a team that went 9-4 last year against a team that went 3-8, but this could be a terrific opener.
South was wiped out 41-13 in 2006 ó the last time it ventured to Ludwig Stadium ó and it would have been worse if SHS coach Joe Pinyan hadnít called the dogs off when it was 41-0 in the middle of the third quarter. But the look of Southís program has changed completely in just two years. Southís gone from small and slow to big and pretty fast in a hurry.
South appears to have an advantage on the O-line, where it is large and deep while Salisbury is much smaller and largely untested except for tough guard Tory Turner.
Salisburyís edge could be kicker Frankie Cardelle, the difference against South in last yearís dogfight at Donnell Stadium. He kicked two field goals and two PATs.
At most positions, the teams match up evenly. Both have plenty of athletes, and both figure to rely heavily on their running attacks.
South, which is employing the triple-option, features junior QB Blake Houston and fullback Deandre Harris.
Salisbury has a super back in senior Dario Hamilton, who will be seeking to score a TD against South for the fourth consecutive season. Thatís a rare feat.
Defensive end Cadarreus Mason and burly nose Kelsey Robinson will seek to stop Hamilton and running mate A.J. Ford, who pulled in a 57-yard TD pass against South last year.
Pinyan, a South grad, is 5-0 on opening nights and has won his last four matchups with the Raiders.