Time: 7:30 p.m.
Records: Kings Mountain 2-1; A.L. Brown 2-1
Series: Wonders lead 2-1 (all state playoff games)
Last meeting: Brown won 30-14 in 3AA fourth-round game in 2008
Last week: Kings Mountain lost to Hickory 20-14 in OT; Wonders were open last week
Next week: Kings Mountain is at Belmont South Point in a key Big South Conference matchup; Brown opens SPC play at Jay M. Robinson;
Game notes: Quite a script, with Wonders coach Ron Massey seeking his 100th win in green and white against the school he steered to success in the 1990s. Massey’s 1998 Kings Mountain team ended the career of A.L. Brown legend Nick Maddox and made the 3A final.
In the here and now, Kings Mountain is in the middle of a challenging four-week stretch against Hickory, A.L. Brown, South Point and Shelby. The first stop resulted in a loss.
KM coach Greg Lloyd uses a spread offense and has weapons in RB Carlos Bell, QB Cameron Harris and receiver Terrance Young, who owns school records. Missing is last season’s standout QB Michael Roberts, but ferocious defensive end Torrey Belcher is still wearing black and gold.
The Wonders have been better offensively than anyone expected with QB Martel Campbell looking capable and Travis Riley (494 rushing yards) emerging as a star running back. Sheldon Saddler is one of the big guys opening holes.
Brown has not been as good as anticipated defensively (289.4 yards per game), but interior lineman Dominique Phifer and his mates may be ready to shine after an off week.
Kings Mountain lost to Hickory. Hickory lost to Statesville. Statesville lost to A.L. Brown. Not that any of that will mean much tonight.