nTime: 7:30 p.m.
nClass: 3AA
nPod: Midwest
nSeeds and records: No. 3 A.L. Brown Wonders (12-1) at No. 1 Charlotte Catholic Cougars (12-0)
nRecords vs. winning teams: A.L. Brown is 5-1. Catholic is 4-1.
n Common Opponent: Hickory Ridge. Catholic battered Hickory Ridge 42-14 in the first round of the playoffs. The Wonders cruised 47-0 against the Raginí Bulls.
nStats: Wonders score 44 per game and allow 14.5. Catholic scores 44.5 and allows almost 15. Stats couldnít be much closer.
nBest wins: Wonders beat a Shelby team that is still alive in 2AA. Catholic dismantled a good Marvin Ridge team last week. Catholic beat Olympic, a nine-win team, 55-20.
nWonders on the road: 4-1. The loss was at Porter Ridge. Porter Ridge is still alive in the 4A bracket
nCougars at home: 7-0. Their only loss came at Charlotte Country Day in early September.
nSeries: Catholic leads 4-1.
Massey Ratings computer prediction: Catholic by 11.
nLast week: A.L. Brown outscored Weddington 41-20. Catholic beat Marvin Ridge 49-28.
nNext week: The winner travels to Asheville or plays at home against Boiling Springs Crest.
nGame notes: The Wonders saw this one coming when the pods were announced. The bad news is the Wonders are on the road and theyíve had scant success against Catholic. … In the 2005 3AA West final in Charlotte, Catholic cruised 28-3. … In a second-round game in Charlotte in 2006, Catholic broke it open late and won 36-21. … Brown led at halftime in a second-round game in Kannapolis in 2007, but Catholic, traditionally a running team, won 19-14 by throwing three TD passes. … QB Jamill Lottís brilliant effort in a 2008 third-round game carried the Wonders to a 28-27 victory in Charlotte. Colby Reid caught the game-tying pass from Lott with 10 seconds left. Morgan McDanielís PAT won it. … Somehow the schools missed each other in 2009, but Catholic swamped the Wonders 45-7 in a third-round game last year. … Jim Oddo has coached Catholic since 1974, and his system remains all but unstoppable. David Herlocker and Elijah Hood are fabulous backs. Jack Brodowicz has six interceptions. … The X-factor is first-year A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome. Heís not unarmed. The Wonders have their own dazzling duo in Kalif Phillips and Damien Washington, but theyíll have to pass successfully to beat Catholic. .. It will take the whole roster tonight, including LB Orlando Gray and special teams ace Sal Gutierrez.