*Time: 7:30 p.m.
*Records: Davie 7-4; Butler 10-1
*Bracket: 4AA
*Seeds: No. 12 Davie vs. No. 5 Matthews Butler
*Series: First meeting
*Last week: Davie whipped North Davidson 28-9; Butler lost 42-31 in a showdown to No. 1 Independence
*Next week: Winner takes on No. 13 Providence (6-5) or No. 4 Garinger (4-7)
*Home and road splits: Davie is 3-2 on the road; Butler is 5-1 at home
*Game notes: Davie has a Shrine Bowler in DB Perry James, but Matthews Butler answers with a pair.
Two members of Butler’s defensive unit ó 225-pound linebacker Hawatha Bell and DB Marcell Sargent ó were selected to the team.Davie coach Doug Illing has worked hard convincing his team Butler looks like a smaller version of West Forsyth on film, but there are a lot of folks who swear Butler is the second-best team in the state behind the Independence team that beat the Bulldogs last week.
Butler has outscored opponents 420-152.
Butler being bracketed as a No. 5 seed is just one more reason to dislike the current playoff structure.
Davie appeared it would have a great year when it beat West Rowan early ó still the only loss for the Falcons ó but the War Eagles descended into a month-long funk before recently righting the ship.
Of late, Davie’s defense, led by tackle Tanis Jefferies and James, has been stout. Davie has also run the ball well lately, with James Mayfield carrying the load. The O-line kept Zach Illing, one of the state’s top passers, sack-free last week.If Davie clicks on all cylinders it could be a ballgame, but just as was the case on Davie’s recent trips to Independence, there’s little margin for error for the War Eagles.