Time: 7:30 p.m.
2009 records: North Rowan 1-10 (the win was by forfeit); East Rowan 1-10
Series: North leads 35-14-1
Last meeting: East won 15-6 in 2008
Streak: East has won the last two meetings
Last North win: 36-15 in 2006
Next week: North is home against Carson; East is home against Salisbury
Game notes: Forty years ago, East enjoyed its greatest moments of football glory ó a 13-0 season, with W.A. Cline coaching, C.M. Yates throwing to Johnny Yarbrough, the ground game overpowering people and the defense suffocating foes.
It’s a safe bet the Mustangs won’t go 13-0 this season, but they are looking for improvement on a 1-10 campaign that wasn’t much fun coming on the heels of 7-5.
East was outscored 351-105 last season so it wasn’t like the Mustangs just got unlucky in tight games. The closest of their setbacks was 33-21 to Carson.
East’s lone win in 2008 came in Week 2 against North Rowan so this is just about a must-win right out of the gate. East could get it. It has good linemen on both sides of the ball ó particularly Nathan Robbins and Greysen Gordy on offense and Chris Demitraszek on defense.
North has to be better than last season when it was outscored 320-80 on the field and managed to put 20 points on the board only once.
North lacks numbers, but it has athletes who could play for anyone. Defensive end Javon Hargrave and running back/linebacker Vince Shropshire are top-notch. The key for the Cavs will be getting improved play from the offensive line and the quarterback position.
North has reasons to be optimistic. In 1A, it should win its share.