West Rowan (3-0) at North Rowan (2-1)
Last week: West handled Salisbury 29-10. North forced a host of turnovers and beat East Rowan 32-14.
Series: North still leads the all-time series 28-21-2, although it’s been a different story in the last decade.
This will be the first meeting since West crushed the Cavaliers 60-0 in 2008. The schools took a three-year break after that lopsided affair.
North’s last win in the series was 26-14 in the third week of the 2001 season. Shrine Bowler Alfonzo Miller fueled that victory, running for two scores and throwing for two more.That game was played at Eagle Stadium, and it has become historic in that it was the last time any county team beat the Falcons.
Since that night, West has won 42 straight against county opposition and has beaten North seven straight times.
Last meeting: In that 60-0 game in 2008, West scored three touchdowns on special teams.Notes1A North has improved a lot. How much better it’s gotten, it will find out tonight. West, perennially one of the elite teams in 3A, a is good measuring stick. North head coach Joe Nixon and three other members of North’s staff are former West coaches, so both teams have inside knowledge of what the opposition wants to do. “It’s like they’re in our huddle and in our coaches’ meetings,” is how West coach Scott Young puts it.
Special teams will be key. West’s kicking game has been fantastic so far, and North’s done some major damage with its kick returns.
It will be interesting to see if West can do anything through the air. West is at the bottom of the county passing stats, while North has the county’s best defense against the pass.
West’s Desmond Jackson, who began his career at North, is the county’s leading rusher with 314 yards.
Salisbury (1-2) at South Rowan (0-3)
Last week: Salisbury was shut out in the second half and fell 29-10 at West Rowan. South lost 26-21 at Northwest Cabarrus.
Series: Salisbury leads all-time 15-7 and has won the last two meetings.
South coach Jason Rollins is 1-5 against the Hornets. South won at home in 2009 behind huge games by Thomas Lowe and B.J. Grant.
Salisbury coach Joe Pinyan is 7-2 against his alma mater.
Last meeting: South couldn’t deal with swift Salisbury QB Brian Bauk in 2011. Bauk rushed for 191 yards on only five carries in a 56-14 romp, and the Hornets outrushed the Raiders 363 to 19.
Notes: South’s defense did better last week after giving up 60-plus points in each of its first two games, but South is still at the bottom of the county in defense. Bauk is still at quarterback for SHS, and the Hornets are capable of getting back on track in a hurry with 50 or so points.
South QB Nathan Lambert has two 200-yard passing games this season and leads the county in passing and total offense. With 23 yards tonight, he’ll move into second place for passing yards in school history. Several times in his career, Lambert has come close to breaking the school passing mark for a single game.
Carson (1-2) at Robinson (1-2)
Last week: Carson dug an impossible hole against Hickory Ridge and was beaten 48-30. Robinson lost 35-14 to former A.L. Brown coach Ron Massey’s Piedmont club.
Series: Carson leads 2-1.
It has been eventful. The two highest-scoring games in Carson history (both teams combined) have come in Carson-Robinson matchups.
With Shaun Warren running wild, the Cougars outscored the Bulldogs 49-35 in 2010. Robinson rallied to win 48-39 last season.
Last meeting: Robinson piled up 359 rushing yards for the game and scored 28 points in the fourth quarter to wipe out what appeared to be a safe Carson lead. That collapse essentially cost Carson a berth in the state playoffs.
Notes: Robinson won a struggle with Lexington and was thrashed by Monroe.
All signs point to another shootout.
Carson QB Austin McNeill leads the county with eight touchdown passes.
Hickory Ridge (2-1) at East Rowan (1-2)
Last week: Hickory Ridge jumped all over Carson early, led 28-0 after a quarter and prevailed 48-30. East Rowan lost five fumbles and fell 32-14 to North Rowan.
Series: Hickory Ridge has won the last two meetings and leads 2-1.
East won the first meeting of the schools in 2009
Last meeting: The Ragin’ Bulls from Harrisburg held the Mustangs to minus rushing yardage in 2011, dominated 35-0 at halftime and cruised 35-14.
Notes: East and Hickory Ridge (SPC) will be conference opponents next season.
Hickory Ridge finished last season on a roll and is still playing well. The Bull’s only loss was by two points to Cuthbertson.
East is finally playing its first home game under coach Danny Misenheimer. That will generate some excitement, but containing Hickory Ridge will be a tall order.
Porter Ridge (3-0) at A.L. Brown (3-0)
Last week: Porter Ridge pounded Forest Hills 38-6. A.L. Brown beat Rocky River 38-21.
Series: A.L. Brown leads 4-1.Last meeting. It wasn’t much fun for the Wonders, who were smashed 41-13 in Indian Trail. That was Brown’s only regular season loss.
Notes: A.L. Brown is ranked No. 1 in the 3A AP poll but is still an underdog tonight against a top-10 4A team. Porter Ridge lost to Scotland County in the 2011 4A state championship game.
So far this season, Porter Ridge has destroyed Piedmont and Monroe, in addition to Forest Hills.
Porter Ridge is coached by former Wonder receiver Blair Hardin, who was part of great A.L. Brown teams in the late 1990s that were coached by his father, Bruce. Bruce Hardin directed the Wonders to 3A state championships in 1989 and 1997.
Davie (2-1) at Lexington (1-2)
Last week: Davie pounded Alexander Central 27-6, while Lexington was losing 40-0 to Gastonia Forestview.
Series: Lexington leads 9-2 on the strength of seven straight wins from 1977-83.
Last meeting: Davie beat Lexington for the first time since 1984 when it took a 28-20 decision in 2011.
Notes: The schools renewed an old rivalry last season.
4A Davie is expected to handle the 2A Yellow Jackets with relative ease this time.
Davie freshman Cade Carney has rushed for 468 yards, and the War Eagles got their passing game in gear last week.
Lexington’s only win came against North Stanly, and the Yellow Jackets were yellow-flagged 32 – no kidding, 32 – times in that one.