Time: 7:30 p.m.
Records: South Rowan 1-8, 1-4 NPC; Statesville 5-4-1, 4-1 NPC
Series: Statesville holds a commanding 13-3 edge.
Last meeting: Statesville’s 44-0 romp against the Raiders in 2010 came just one year after South broke the school scoring record in a 76-22 mauling of the Greyhounds. Those two scores say a lot about how good South’s 2009 team was and how far the Raiders have fallen since.
Last week: South had a week off and needed it. The Raiders are thin and have been dealing with injuries. Players such as receiver/corner Jordan Kennerly have been pressed into duty both ways. Statesville beat East Rowan 30-0.
Next week: South will be counting helmets and shoulder pads and starting preparations for 2012. Statesville will be in the playoffs, probably the 3AA variety.
Game notes: Junior Tristan Mumford, a Division I prospect, demolished South with four touchdowns and 185 rushing yards last season as Statesville’s main running back.
Now he’s the quarterback, which means he’ll be touching the ball on every snap. He could produce some 90-yard runs against the Raiders, who can’t match his speed.
South quarterback Nathan Lambert needs just 16 yards to break the school passing record for a season. Charles Sherrill had 1,592 in 11 games in 1997. Lambert has 1,577 in South’s nine games. The Raiders are playing just 10 this year.
Tight end Josh Medlin has caught half of Lambert’s 10 TD passes. Center B.J. Morrison leads the blocking.
Statesville held East to negative yards last week, so the Raiders who were smacked 21-0 by the Mustangs, probably shouldn’t be overly optimistic about tonight’s outcome.
Statesville can tie for the NPC title if West Iredell beats West Rowan.