Prep football preview … And here’s who will win …
Welcome to Week 9 of the high school football season.
And starting this week, running through the playoffs, we’ll have something new as our weekly high school football preview.
We’ll preview some of the area’s top games, as we’ve been doing all along, but we’ll also add my predictions.
So let’s get right to the games, with those previews and picks (if you see a ranking in front of the team, that’s how they’re ranked in the QC Sports Report Top 12 this week) …
Butler (4-3, 1-1 Meck Power Six 7A/8A) at West Charlotte (4-3, 1-1), 7 p.m. – There are several interesting story lines here. Butler first-year head coach Donald Littlejohn was an assistant the past few seasons at West Charlotte. And Mighty Lions’ first-year head coach D.J. McFadden formerly coached at Independence, which, of course, is Butler’s local rival.
This game is important because it likely will decide third place in the conference (let’s assume Chambers and Mallard Creek finish 1-2). Both teams have solid defenses. Butler is more likely to run the ball, while West Charlotte is increasingly putting its offense in the hands of freshman QB Devareus Hill Jr.
This one should be close, and we’ll go with the visitors. The pick: Butler 21, West Charlotte 12.
No. 12 Palisades (6-1, 2-0 Southwestern 7A/8A) at Providence (3-4, 2-0), 7 p.m. – Technically, it’s a battle for first place. But Palisades’ defense is the best in the conference, and the Pumas have enough offense to keep pace with Providence and QB Luke Meador. The pick: Palisades 26, Providence 14.
Hickory Ridge (6-1, 4-0 Greater Metro 6A/7A) at No. 7 A.L. Brown (7-0, 4-0), 7 p.m. – This isn’t the Hickory Ridge team of recent seasons, when the Ragin’ Bulls finished near the bottom. This team has allowed only 53 points, led by LB Schawn Connor (13 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two fumble recoveries). But A.L. Brown is an offensive juggernaut, featuring QB A.J. Settles and RB Lemar Grier (1,130 rushing yards, 19 touchdowns). Hickory Ridge will put the brakes on the Wonders’ 47-point-a-game offense, but … The pick: A.L. Brown 21, Hickory Ridge 14
Charlotte Catholic (4-3, 2-1 Southern Carolina 6A/7A) at Marvin Ridge (6-1, 2-1), 7 p.m. – Fans keep expecting Charlotte Catholic’s offense to break loose, but it hasn’t happened yet. Marvin Ridge, meanwhile, has handled all opposition except Weddington, QB Levi Kerr has thrown for nearly 1,600 yards, and PK Ford Fehling is a threat from 55 yards in. The pick: Marvin Ridge 28, Charlotte Catholic 7.
Davie County (5-2, 2-0 North Piedmont 6A/7A) at Mooresville (3-4, 2-0), 7 p.m. – Davie County is a solid football team with a 1,000-yard rusher (Braxton Bowling), but Mooresville’s offense has ignited in recent weeks behind QB Weston Michalak and RB Zy Pharr. The pick: Mooresville 27, Davie County 21.
South Point (7-1, 3-1 Big South 5A/6A) at Kings Mountain (6-1, 3-0), 7 p.m. – Kings Mountain would like to win this one and then face Crest in two weeks for the conference title. A South Point victory, combined with a Kings Mountain win over Crest, would gum the works. The pick: South Point 28, Kings Mountain 23.
No. 6 Jay M. Robinson (7-0, 4-0 South Piedmont 4A/5A) at West Rowan (6-1, 4-0), 7 p.m. – Jay M. Robinson, behind QB Aury Greenfield, has a big-as-life defense that has held opponents to a TOTAL of 12 points all season. The host Falcons have enough offensive weapons to equal that 12-point mark but not enough to win. The pick: Jay M. Robinson 28, West Rowan 14.
East Lincoln (7-1, 5-1 Western Foothills 4A/5A) at Hickory (5-2, 4-1), 7:30 p.m. – The winner here is likely to finish second behind West Iredell. Hickory is averaging 52 points a game; East Lincoln is averaging 40. The pick: Hickory 35, East Lincoln 27.
Community School of Davidson (5-2, 4-0 Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A) at Corvian Community (6-1, 4-0), 7 p.m. – The visiting Spartans are led by QB Ty Sigler, who has thrown for 1,264 yards and spreads the ball around well to his receivers. Corvian, though is a different kind of critter. The Cardinals are fighting for the top seed in Class 2A, and their defense could give Sigler fits. DB Cam Simpson has six interceptions. The pick: Corvian Community 31, Community School of Davidson 21.
Weekend schedule
(all kickoffs at 7 p.m., unless noted otherwise)
Thursday
CISAA
Providence Day 49, Charlotte Latin 7
Friday
Greater Charlotte 7A/8A
Hopewell (4-3, 0-2) at Garinger (2-5, 0-2)
Hough (7-0, 2-0) at South Mecklenburg (3-4, 2-0)
West Mecklenburg (0-7, 0-2) at Myers Park (5-2, 2-0)
Meck Power Six 7A/8A
Butler (4-3, 1-1) at West Charlotte (4-3, 1-1)
Independence (1-6, 0-2) at Mallard Creek (5-2, 2-0)
North Mecklenburg (2-5, 0-2) at Chambers (7-0, 2-0)
Southwestern 7A/8A
Ballantyne Ridge (3-4, 1-1) at Ardrey Kell (4-3, 1-1)
Palisades (6-1, 2-0) at Providence (3-4, 2-0)
Rocky River (0-7, 0-2) at East Mecklenburg (3-4, 0-2)
CISAA
Charlotte Country Day (3-4, 0-0) at Charlotte Christian (2-4, 0-0)
Greater Metro 6A/7A
Berry Academy (3-4, 1-3) at Central Cabarrus (1-6, 0-4)
Hickory Ridge (6-1, 4-0) at A.L. Brown (7-0, 4-0)
Olympic (3-4, 2-2) at Harding (2-5, 1-3)
West Cabarrus (3-4, 3-1) at Cox Mill (2-5, 1-3)
Southern Carolina 6A/7A
Charlotte Catholic (4-3, 2-1) at Marvin Ridge (6-1, 2-1)
Sun Valley (3-4, 1-2) at Piedmont (3-4, 1-2)
Weddington (8-0, 4-0) at Porter Ridge (3-5, 2-2)
North Piedmont 6A/7A
Davie County (5-2, 2-0) at Mooresville (3-4, 2-0)
North Iredell (0-7, 0-2) at Lake Norman (7-0, 2-0)
Statesville (2-5, 0-2) at South Iredell (1-6, 0-2)
Big South 5A/6A
Crest (6-1, 3-0) at North Gaston (0-8, 0-4)
Forestview (1-6, 1-2) at Ashbrook (3-4, 1-2)
South Point (7-1, 3-1) at Kings Mountain (6-1, 3-0)
Rocky River 4A/5A
Forest Hills (7-0, 2-0) at West Stanly (3-4, 1-1)’
Monroe (5-2, 2-0) at Anson County (4-3, 0-2)
Mount Pleasant (5-2, 1-1) at Parkwood (3-4, 0-2)
South Piedmont 4A/5A
Jay M. Robinson (7-0, 4-0) at West Rowan (6-1, 4-0)
Jesse Carson (4-3, 2-2) at East Rowan (3-4, 1-3)
Northwest Cabarrus (6-1, 4-0) at Concord (1-6, 0-4)
Salisbury (0-7, 0-4) at South Rowan (4-3, 1-3)
Western Foothills 4A/5A
Bandys (3-4, 2-3) at Maiden (3-4, 2-3), 7:30 pm
Bunker Hill (3-4, 1-4) at Fred T. Foard (2-5, 1-4), 7:30 pm
East Lincoln (7-1, 5-1) at Hickory (5-2, 4-1), 7:30 pm
West Iredell (7-0, 5-0) at Newton-Conover (3-4, 2-3), 7:30 pm
Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A
Christ the King (5-2, 2-2) at Pine Lake Prep (4-3, 2-2)
Community School of Davidson (5-2, 4-0) at Corvian Community (6-1, 4-0)
Langtree Charter (3-4, 1-3) at Lake Norman Charter (4-3, 2-2)
Lincoln charter (1-6, 1-3) at Bradford Prep (1-6, 0-4)
Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A
Burns (5-2, 5-0) at Cherryville (6-2, 3-2), 7:30 pm
East Gaston (4-3, 2-3) at Shelby (6-1, 5-0), 7:30 pm
Stuart Cramer (5-2, 3-2) at Lincolnton (6-2, 4-2), 7:30 pm
West Lincoln (2-5, 1-4) at Highland Tech (0-8, 0-6), 7:30 pm
Catawba-Yadkin Valley 1A/2A/3A
Mountain Island Charter (6-1, 3-1) at Union Academy (5-2, 3-1)
North Stanly (7-0, 4-0) at North Rowan (6-1, 4-0)
South Stanly def. Thomas Jefferson Academy, forfeit
Big 5 (NCISAA)
Covenant Day (1-6, 0-2) at Asheville School (4-2, 1-0)
SouthLake Christian (4-3, 1-1) at Hickory Grove Christian (7-0, 1-0)
Western Athletic (NCISAA)
Metrolina Christian (3-4, 0-0) at Cannon School (5-2, 0-0)
Rabun Gap-GA School (3-4, 0-0) at Christ School (6-1, 0-0)
Nonconference
Harrells Christian (4-3) at High Point Christian (5-2)
Saturday
Catawba-Yadkin Valley 1A/2A/3A
Albemarle (2-5, 1-3) at Bonnie Cone Academy (0-7, 0-4), 1 pm
Nonconference
Cabarrus Stallions (0-3) at Greenville-SC Hurricanes (3-4), 6 pm
OFF: Ambassador Christian, Bessemer City, Hunter Huss, North Lincoln
