Sports fans who are not fans of West Rowan football tell me they are tired of hearing that the Falcons are unbeatable.
Common Sense agrees the Falcons are beatable. Everyone is beatable. If Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor, could be taken down by a couple of slow, undersized Hobbits, everyone is beatable.
Who can beat West?
Well, Common Sense would pick Drew Brees and the Saints over the Falcons. Of course, if the Saints had to go to Mount Ulla, they might need overtime.
Lighten up, folks. Embrace K.P. Parks’ run at the all-time state rushing record. How can anyone dislike a 5-foot-6 guy who has 9,000-plus rushing yards?
We don’t get to see many teams in Rowan County like this year’s West aggregation. Enjoy the Falcons the way you enjoyed that 31-0 Salisbury girls basketball team in 2003-04 or West coach Mike Gurley’s 61-0 run with some very tall people.
If you are a fan of East Rowan, you have Common Sense’s permission to strongly dislike West football right up until midnight.
In my unofficial preseason picks, I had East beating only Cox Mill and North Rowan for a 2-9 slate.
East is 7-1. Common Sense salutes the Mustangs. I do not foresee pleasant things happening to the Mustangs from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the East Stadium, but I do respect them.
The picks have done almost as well as East, and thanks for asking.
Back-to-back 16-1 weeks have the sensible selections back up to a respectable 72-13 for the season.
The picks:
West Rowan 35, East Rowan 7
While they are not unbeatable, the Falcons should make it a record 33 county wins in a row.
South Rowan 28, Carson 16
May produce an even bigger crowd than East-West and probably a tighter game.
North Rowan 48, Chatham Central 0Looks like another don’t-stop-the-clock Love Boat-cruise for the Cavs.
Salisbury 21, Lexington 13
Not sure QB John Knox is 100 percent, but I am sure this is a rivalry game on the road for the Hornets. The good news: Coach Joe Pinyan is 13-0 against the Jackets: 6-0 in varsity, 7-0 in jayvee games.
A.L. Brown 28, Hickory Ridge 13
Under-hyped showdown between SPC co-leaders. Take the under-the-radar Wonders in a showdown with anyone ó except the Saints.
Mount Tabor 14, Davie 13
Just one of those years for the War Eagles.
YVC: Albemarle 42, East Montgomery 7; South Stanly 35, North Moore 10; West Montgomery 34, South Davidson 13
CCC: East Davidson 17, Central Davidson 14; Thomasville 27, West Davidson 7
NPC: Statesville 21, North Iredell 7; West Iredell 35, West Wilkes 12
SPC: Concord 13, Mt. Pleasant 10; NW Cabarrus 41, Central Cabarrus 14; Robinson 49, Cox Mill 13
CPC: West Forsyth 28, Reagan 10; R.J. Reynolds 24, North Davidson 14