Time: 7:30 p.m.
Records: South 4-1; West 5-0
Series: South leads 21-16-1
Last meeting: West romped 56-7 at Donnell Stadium in 2008
Streaks: West has won a school-record 19 straight overall. It has won eight straight against South, 14 straight against NPC opponents and 30 straight against county foes.
Last time South beat West: The Raiders won 31-24 in OT in 2000.
Last week: South battered Central Cabarrus 51-6; West thumped Mooresville 48-9
Next week: South is home against North Iredell; West Rowan is at West Iredell
Game notes: South has its best team since 2001, when it won eight games. The Raiders will find out exactly how good they are tonight in the NPC opener for both teams. West has generally destroyed county opposition for many years.
The series hasn’t produced anything resembling a competitive game since 2003 ó when West was down, South was up and the Falcons won a 42-39 shootout. The past five seasons it’s been a West steamrolleró 39-14, 49-6, 56-0, 40-6 and 56-7.South coach Jason Rollins is 0-3 against West and has watched his teams put 13 points on the board to West’s 152. West coach Scott Young is 9-2 against the Raiders.
Still, South has a talented senior class and has beaten A.L. Brown and Salisbury. West had its hands full with Salisbury, so there’s a chance South can make this one exciting.
The QBs, South’s Blake Houston and West’s B.J. Sherrill, are among the best in their school’s history. West has great offensive players in K.P. Parks and Jon Crucitti. South counters with Thomas Lowe, D’Andre Harris and B.J. Grant.
Top defenders such as West’s Chris Smith and South’s Cadarreus Mason will also be part of the fun.