Meck matchups

Charlotte Catholic (1-0) at Providence (0-1)

The kind of nonconference game between powers that fans should get excited about, and coaches should be congratulated for scheduling. Tonight's game matches two of the region's better programs and two conference championship contenders. Catholic won 48-47 in overtime last season.

Hough (0-0) at Rocky River (0-0)

Two teams making history tonight. Two days after officially opening their doors, Mecklenburg County's newest schools will play their first games - against each other. And you can't replace winning your first game. Someone will know the feeling tonight.

Concord First Assembly (1-0) at Charlotte Christian (1-0)

First Assembly has won 14 straight games and is the reigning private school Division II state champ. Charlotte Christian, the 2008 private school Division I champion, was state D1 runner-up last season.

Olympic (1-0) at Myers Park (1-0)

Olympic beat the Mustangs 35-14 last season. Myers Park beat Garinger 10-8 last week, winning its season opener for the sixth straight year.

West Mecklenburg (0-1) at West Charlotte (1-0)

This once-annual rivalry used to be among the best in the city and the state. West Charlotte won 55-26 last year, but that was the first time the teams had met since 2004, when the Lions won 40-27. Here's hoping the teams keep playing. It would be nice to re-ignite the old tradition.

Regional contests

Rock Hill South Pointe (1-0) vs. Rock Hill Northwestern (0-0)

The teams will meet Saturday at 4 p.m. at District Three Stadium in Rock Hill. ESPNU will televise the game nationally. It'll feature two of the nation's best: Northwestern quarterback Justin Worley and South Pointe defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, the top recruit in America.

Lincolnton (1-0) at Belmont South Point (0-1)

Lincolnton was the 2007 N.C.2A champion. South Point is the reigning N.C.3AA champion, though the Red Raiders come in off a 22-7 loss to Clover (S.C.) last week.

South Rowan (0-1) at Kannapolis Brown (1-0)

Brown tailback and North Carolina commitment Travis Riley was injured last week and will not play tonight. The team is awaiting results of tests to determine his future. Riley rushed for nearly 2,000 yards last season.

Of particular interest

1 Can Garinger keep it up? The Wildcats nearly upset Myers Park last week, losing 10-8. Garinger plays emerging 2A power Berry tonight and 2,000-yard QB Kenny Patterson. Patterson is nearly 6-foot-8.

2 Vance's talent: Some area coaches think the Cougars have some potentially great players. The Cougars kick off the season tonight with coach Phil Culicerto looking for big things from guys like sophomore QB Jalen Latter and Division I recruit Calvin Hunter, the 2009 I-MECK Special Teams Player of the Year.

3 Waddell's winning: The Raiders won their season-opener for the second straight year last week and ended a 10-game losing streak. Here's another streak Waddell would like to end tonight at South Meck: the Raiders haven't won their second game of the season since beating Berry 45-6 in 2004.

Notes

West Rowan star commits to Ga. Tech

Cornerback Domonique Noble, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior, chose Georgia Tech this week over N.C. State, Penn State, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest. He had more than 25 offers.

North Rowan RB takes hero turn

Best finish of Week One might have been in Rowan County. Down 20-0 to start the fourth quarter, East Rowan rallied to beat North Rowan 21-20. Jamey Blalock scored from 2 yards with 30 seconds left and kicker Jantzen Stirewalt nailed the game-winning extra point. East Rowan, 9-4 last season, won six games by seven points or fewer in '09.

QB Beatty looks like the man at Olympic

One of the biggest questions at Olympic was who was going to be quarterback after Lucas Beatty - one of the best in school history - graduated. Answer? His baby brother. Junior Cason Beatty hit on 8-of-14 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-14 win against North Meck last week.

Football/Soccer leaders online

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Schedule

Games at 7:30, unless noted (*denotes highlights on WCNC, Channel 36 tonight at 11:13).

North Carolina

Thursday

Country Day at HP Andrews, late

Tonight

Albemarle @ West Stanly

Ardrey Kell @ North Meck, 7

Bandys @ St. Stephens

Berry Academy @ Garinger, 7

Bessemer City @ Hunter Huss

Burns @ Crest*

Charlotte Catholic @ Providence, 7*

Charlotte Latin @ Mt. Zion Acad

Chesnee SC @ Chase

Clover SC @ Ashbrook

Concord @ Lexington

Cuthbertson @ J.M Robinson

Draughn @ Cherryville

East Burke @ Patton

East Gaston @ North Gaston

East Meck @ Vance, 7

East Rowan @ Salisbury

F.T. Foard @ Maiden

First Assembly @ Char Christian*

Forestview @ East Rutherford

Harding @ Mallard Creek, 7

Hibriten @ Wilkes Central

Hickory @ Statesville

Highland Tech @ Central Acad

Hough @ Rocky River, 7*

Lincolnton @ South Point*

Marvin Ridge @ Hickory Ridge

East Lincoln @ Newton-Conover

North Lincoln @ Bunker Hill

North Rowan @ Carson

Olympic @ Myers Park, 7

Pageland Central SC @ Anson

Parkwood @ Monroe

Piedmont @ Porter Ridge*

Princeton @ North Moore

Providence Day @ Victory Chr

Q Foundation @ Kings Mountain

South Caldwell @ West Caldwell

South Iredell @ Lake Norman

South Rowan @ A.L. Brown*

South Stanly @ North Stanly

Southlake Chr @ N. Raleigh Chr

Union Acad @ East Montgomery

Waddell @ South Meck, 7

Watauga @ Shelby (E)*

Weddington @ Forest Hills

West Iredell @ Alexander Central

West Lincoln @ North Wilkes

West Meck @ West Charlotte, 7*

West Rowan @ NW Cabarrus*

South Carolina

Thursday

Greer at Rock Hill, late

Tonight

Broome @ York

Buford @ Indian Land

Forsyth Country Day at Westminster Catawba

Great Falls @ Nation Ford

Lugoff-Elgin @ Fort Mill

Jackson @ Lancaster

Saturday

RH South Pointe vs. RH Northwestern, District Three Stadium, 4 p.m.