Prep football preview: Rivalries, rivalries …
It’s the final week of the regular season, which means it’s Rivalry Week in high school football.
Some of the Charlotte area’s best rivalries will be renewed Friday night, and in many cases, a conference championship will be at stake.
Another big factor in this week’s schedule is playoff positioning. It’s the final chance for teams to improve their RPI position before the N.C. High School Athletic Association and the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association release playoff brackets Saturday.
So let’s wade into this week’s schedule, with some background and some predictions. I went 6-1 on my picks last week and am 13-3 for the two weeks we’ve been doing this.
South Mecklenburg (4-5, 3-1 Greater Charlotte 7A/8A) at Myers Park (6-3, 3-1), 7 p.m. – These two schools are tough rivals, and they’ll be battling for second place in the conference behind powerhouse Hough. Coach Joe Evans’ South Meck team has made the most of its opportunities. But Myers Park has more offensive firepower. The pick: Myers Park 34, South Mecklenburg 14.
Butler (4-5, 1-3 Meck Power Six 7A/8A) at Independence (1-8, 0-4), 7 p.m. – Neither of these teams will win a championship this season, but the Bulldogs and Patriots are fierce neighborhood rivals. Independence was gutted by the loss of its head coach and standout QB. Butler also had a depleted lineup, but the Bulldogs have a bit more in the pantry this season. The pick: Butler 21, Independence 7.
No. 5 Chambers (9-0, 4-0 Meck Power Six 7A/8A) at No. 9 Mallard Creek (7-2, 4-0), 7 p.m. – Mallard Creek has powered through the conference schedule with a tough defense, led by players like Kaiden Odom (24 tackles for loss, 13 sacks). But Chambers has been threatened only once this season, by Palisades. QB Jamouri Nichols has thrown for more than 2,000 yards, and the Cougars would like to snap a three-game losing streak against their neighborhood rivals (that included a 31-0 shellacking last season). The winner wins the conference. The pick: Chambers 26, Mallard Creek 16.
Providence (5-4, 4-0 Southwestern 7A/8A) at Ardrey Kell (6-3, 3-1), 7 p.m. – Like Mooresville (below), Providence has caught fire in conference play. QB Luke Meadow leads the Panthers’ high-powered offense, but Ardrey Kell freshman QB Noah Dailey has thrown for more than 1,600 yards. A Providence win would give the Panthers their second straight conference title. An Ardrey Kell victory probably means a three-way tie for first (with Palisades). The pick: Ardrey Kell 27, Providence 24.
No. 4 Lake Norman (9-0, 4-0 North Piedmont 6A/7A) at Mooresville (5-4, 4-0), 7 p.m. – This one could have it all – two standout QB’s, in Lake Norman’s Kaden Craft and Mooresville’s Weston Michalak. The two teams also have good ground games and stingy defenses. But does a 0-4 start this season indicate Mooresville might have some issues against its rival this week? The pick: Lake Norman 31, Mooresville 21.
Hunter Huss (3-6, 1-4 Big South 5A/6A) at Ashbrook (4-5, 2-3), 7 p.m. – Here’s another great rivalry game that won’t factor in the conference title race. Ashbrook has won six in a row against Huss, but the Huskies had won four straight before that. Ashbrook QB A.J. McClain could be the difference here. The pick: Ashbrook 28, Hunter Huss 7.
Kings Mountain (7-2, 4-1 Big South 5A/6A) at No. 11 Crest (8-1, 5-0), 7 p.m. – One of the two big Cleveland County rivalry games being played on the final Friday of the regular season. The teams have split their last 10 games, but Crest won 70-0 last year. Do you think the Mountaineers remember that one? Should Kings Mountain win, the conference will end up a three-way tie, with South Point at 5-1. The pick: Crest 34, Kings Mountain 20.
Monroe (7-2, 4-0 Rocky River 4A/5A) at Forest Hills (8-1, 3-1), 7 p.m. – Here’s another rivalry that usually decides a conference championship (and will again this year). Monroe RB Jamir Jackson has rushed for nearly 1,500 yards and 22 touchdowns. Forest Hills QB Makhi Massey has thrown for 1,383 yards and rushed for another 860. The pick: Monroe 28, Forest Hills 17.
No. 6 Jay M. Robinson (9-0, 6-0 South Piedmont 4A/5A) at Northwest Cabarrus (7-2, 5-1), 7 p.m. – This isn’t an old and storied rivalry, as Jay M. Robinson is only 25 years old. But in recent seasons, the Bulldogs and Trojans have battled for championships more years than not. Robinson, led by QB Aury Greenfield, is a scoring machine. But Northwest Cabarrus put up 42 points last week (although, in a losing effort). The pick: Jay M. Robinson 35, Northwest Cabarrus 21.
No. 8 Shelby (8-1, 7-0 Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A) at Burns (7-2, 7-0), 7:30 p.m. – Yes, it’s another Cleveland County rivalry. According to the somewhat-hazy records, Shelby leads this series 54-17. But it’s always fiercely played and often (like this year) a battle for a conference championship. Both teams have explosive offenses. Shelby won 36-35 last year. Does that give you an idea of what to expect? The pick: Shelby 34, Burns 20.
Thomas Jefferson Academy (1-8, 0-6 Catawba-Yadkin 1A/2A/3A) vs. Bonnie Cone Academy (0-9, 0-6) – We’ll take some time here to preview a game that won’t even happen. Thomas Jefferson Academy forfeited the final seven games of the regular season because it didn’t have enough players to field a varsity team. So why is this game important? It’s because Bonnie Cone Academy has never won a varsity football game in its two years as an NCHSAA school. Tonight will be the first, as the Eagles win by forfeit.
The schedule
Thursday
Western Conference (NCISAA)
Cannon School 49, Christ School 29
Friday
Greater Charlotte 7A/8A
Garinger (2-7, 0-4) at West Mecklenburg (1-8, 1-3)
Hough (9-0, 4-0) at Hopewell (5-4, 1-3)
South Mecklenburg (4-5, 3-1) at Myers Park (6-3, 3-1)
Meck Power Six 7A/8A
Butler (4-5, 1-3) at Independence (1-8, 0-4)
Chambers (9-0, 4-0) at Mallard Creek (7-2, 4-0)
West Charlotte (5-4, 2-2) at North Mecklenburg (3-6, 1-3)
Southwestern 7A/8A
Ballantyne Ridge (3-6, 1-3) at Rocky River (0-9, 0-4)
East Mecklenburg (4-5, 1-3) at Palisades (7-2, 3-1)
Providence (5-4, 4-0) at Ardrey Kell (6-3, 3-1)
Greater Metro 6A/7A
Cox Mill (2-7, 1-5) at Berry Academy (4-5, 2-4)
Harding (2-7, 1-5) at Central Cabarrus (2-7, 1-5)
Hickory Ridge (7-2, 5-1) at Olympic (4-5, 3-3)
West Cabarrus (5-4, 5-1) at A.L. Brown (9-0, 6-0)
CISAA
Charlotte Latin (4-5, 1-1) at Charlotte Christian (3-5, 1-1)
Providence Day (8-1, 2-0) at Charlotte Country Day (3-6, 0-2)
North Piedmont 6A/7A
Lake Norman (9-0, 4-0) at Mooresville (5-4, 4-0)
South Iredell (2-7 1-3) at Davie County (5-4, 2-2)
Statesville (3-6, 1-3) at North Iredell (0-9, 0-4)
Southern Carolina 6A/7A
Piedmont (3-6, 1-4) at Charlotte Catholic (5-4, 3-2)
Marvin Ridge (8-1, 4-1) at Cuthbertson (1-8, 0-5)
Porter Ridge (3-6, 2-3) at Sun Valley (4-5, 2-3)
Big South 5A/6A
Forestview (1-8, 1-4) at North Gaston (0-9, 0-5)
Hunter Huss (3-6, 1-4) at Ashbrook (4-5, 2-3)
Kings Mountain (7-2, 4-1) at Crest (8-1, 5-0)
Rocky River 4A/5A
Anson County (4-5, 0-4) at Parkwood (4-5, 1-3)
Monroe (7-2, 4-0) at Forest Hills (8-1, 3-1)
West Stanly (4-5, 2-2) at Mount Pleasant (6-3, 2-2)
South Piedmont 4A/5A
East Rowan (4-5, 2-4) at Concord (1-8, 0-6)
Jay M. Robinson (9-0, 6-0) at Northwest Cabarrus (7-2, 5-1)
South Rowan (5-4, 2-4) at Jesse Carson (4-5, 2-4)
West Rowan (7-2, 5-1) at Salisbury (2-7, 2-4)
Western Foothills 4A/5A
Hickory (6-3, 5-2) at Bandys (3-6, 2-5), 7:30 pm
North Lincoln (2-7, 1-6) at Fred T. Foard (2-7, 1-6), 7:30 pm
Newton-Conover (4-5, 3-4) at Maiden (4-5, 3-4), 7:30 pm
West Iredell (9-0, 7-0) at Bunker Hill (5-4, 3-4), 7:30 pm
Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A
Bradford Prep (2-7, 1-5) at Corvian Community (8-1, 6-0)
Christ the King (6-3, 3-3) at Langtree Charter (3-6, 1-5)
Lincoln Charter (2-7, 2-4) at Lake Norman Charter (6-3, 4-2)
Pine Lake Prep (4-5, 2-4) vs. Community School of Davidson (6-3, 5-1), at Spartan Park in Huntersville
Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A
Bessemer City (1-8, 1-6) at Cherryville (5-4, 3-4), 7:30 pm
East Gaston (5-4, 3-4) at Stuart Cramer (7-2, 5-2), 7:30 pm
Shelby (8-1, 7-0) at Burns (7-2, 7-0), 7:30 pm
West Lincoln (3-6, 2-5) at Lincolnton (6-3, 4-3), 7:30 pm
Catawba-Yadkin Valley 1A/2A/3A
Albemarle (3-6, 2-4) at South Stanly (2-7, 2-4)
Mountain Island Charter (7-2, 4-2) at North Rowan (7-2, 6-1)
North Stanly (9-0, 6-0) at Union Academy (7-2, 5-1)
Thomas Jefferson Academy (1-8, 0-6) vs. Bonnie Cone Academy (0-9, 0-6) (Bonnie Cone Academy will win by forfeit)
Big Five (NCISAA)
Covenant Day (2-7, 0-3) at High Point Christian (7-2, 2-1)
Mecklenburg nonconference
Ambassador Christian (6-3) vs. Asheville School (6-2), at Lenoir-Rhyne Univ.
Hickory Grove Christian (7-2) at Metrolina Christian (3-6)
King’s Academy (4-5) at SouthLake Christian (5-4)
OFF: East Lincoln, Highland Tech, South Point, Weddington
