*Time: 7:30 p.m.
*Records: South Rowan 5-6; South Point 10-1
*Bracket: 3A
*Seeds: No. 15 South Rowan vs. No. 2 South Point
*Series: Tied 2-2
*Last meeting: South Point thumped South Rowan 42-6 in 1971
*Last week: South Rowan crushed North Iredell 52-0; South Point beat Crest 35-28 for its 10th victory in a row
*Next week: Winner takes on the survivor of the game between No. 10 Western Alamance (8-3) and No. 7 High Point Andrews (7-3)
*Home and road splits: South Rowan 3-3 on the road; South Point is 5-0 at home
*Game notes: Storybook stuff with former South Point split end and assistant Jason Rollins going home to face his old school, but it’s unlikely to have a happy ending for South Rowan. South Point, which hasn’t lost to a North Carolina team, is a legitimate threat for a state title.South Rowan has made major strides in Rollins’ third season, but it will be up against an offensive machine at Lineberger Stadium. Big South champ South Point is scoring nearly 40 points a game. It mashed Forestview, an 8-3 club, 35-0.When it was pushed to the wall last week by Crest, South Point’s “Red Bone” that features QB Desmond Lowery and fullback Aaron Crumbley put the ball in the end zone four straight possessions.
Rollins had a good seat for the 2007 playoff game in which South Point mauled Northwest Cabarrus 70-31, so he understands what he’s up against.
South quarterback Blake Houston and running back Deandre Harris have to make first downs and give the Raiders’ defense, led by Cadarreus Mason, a chance to rest occasionally.