High School Football Gameday

Observer staff writer Langston Wertz Jr.'s analysis of today's games.

By Langston Wertz

Posted: Friday, Dec. 03, 2010

More Information

Sweet 16
Elevator

Shelby: When you lose four games in a row and drop to 2-4 in early October, it would be easy to start thinking about 2011. Instead, the Golden Lions are thinking about a state title.

Rock Hill: Rock Hill Northwestern plays for a state title tonight and Rock Hill South Pointe plays for one tomorrow.

Cold Weather: Better find the hat and gloves tonight, kids. It's going to be nippy. We've been spoiled with mild Friday night temperatures this fall. Not tonight.
I'm going to miss Charlotte Latin coach Larry McNulty, who announced his retirement this week. He was colorful, funny, smart and very successful. His successor at Latin will have big shoes to fill. Losing former Independence coach Tom Knotts and McNulty in successive years is a big blow to Charlotte football.

That Latin job is one of the best around. I wonder how many area public school coaches apply?

I can understand Butler officials not wanting to go to Memorial Stadium for the Vance semifinal tonight. Playing there doesn't always work out financially. That needs to change.

If you read this spot regularly, you'll know I said three weeks ago that Vance was a playoff dark horse. Butler is a favorite tonight, but Vance is capable of a win in the semifinals - and next week, too. And there's something cosmic that happens when a team gets on a special run like this. Guys start playing over their heads and believing anything is possible. Still, a Cougars win tonight, to me, would qualify as the biggest upset we've ever seen in Charlotte.

Mecklenburg matchups

Vance (11-3) at Butler (14-0)

Vance upset Mallard Creek last week, but to take down the reigning N.C. 4AA state champions would be an even bigger upset. Butler coach Mike Newsome said the Cougars' strong defense could make things tough for his team tonight.

Boiling Springs Crest (10-3)

at Charlotte Catholic (14-0)

Catholic hunts its fifth state title appearance since 2004. Crest has won six of seven, and the Chargers are averaging 38.3 points in the postseason. Regional contests

Davie County (8-6)

At Indian Trail Porter Ridge (13-1)

How about the Pirates? Porter Ridge opened in 2005 and the team won seven games in its first four seasons. Now they are one win away from a state title game, sparked by a defense that gives up 9.6 points per game. Davie started 1-4, which included a 40-0 loss to West Rowan, but has had a remarkable turnaround.

Lenoir Hibriten (12-2) at West Rowan (14-0)

West Rowan's 44-game win streak is the longest in the nation. Hibriten really wanted this game last year, at home, but got caught looking ahead and lost in the quarterfinals to Waynesville Tuscola.

Shelby (9-5) at Salisbury (11-3)

Shelby has overcome a four-game losing streak early in the year. Salisbury, which has won seven straight, is back in the semifinals for the second straight year. It lost 17-10 in overtime to Newton-Conover last year.

Of particular interest

1 Lincolnton QB Brandon Wilson: Winston-Salem Carver might want to key on him tonight. He rushed 25 times for a Lincoln County record 307 yards in last week's 28-14 win against Polk County. Polk County had 217 total yards.

2 Albemarle's new duo: With star players Rusty Parks and Malcolm Hammond ineligible, Demetrius Hamilton (1,300 yards rushing, 19 TDs) and Marquis McCormick (1,200, 21) have had big seasons filling in. The Bulldogs (10-4) play host to Mitchell (8-6) in tonight's 1AA semifinal.

Notes

Bronco Nagurski Awards

Unionville Piedmont's Jacob Brewer is the Comeback Player of the year. The Charlotte Touchdown Club annually honors a student-athlete who demonstrates dedication toward overcoming injury and adversity. Brewer has overcome three knee surgeries. He returned this season to help Piedmont average nearly 300 yards rushing and a Rocky River conference title.

North Mecklenburg's Andrew Yost is the Donnie Shell defensive player of the year. Through 10 games, Yost had 136 tackles, eight sacks and four interceptions for the Vikings. He was team captain in his junior and senior seasons and has a 4.3 GPA.

Gastonia Huss' Joey Blake is the Roman Gabriel Student-Athlete of the year. Blake, a linebacker, was his schools defensive MVP in 2008 and '09 and carries a 4.8 GPA. He's ranked second in his class.

Anson's Anthony named N.C. top player

Anson Senior linebacker Stephone Anthony is the N.C. Gatorade football player of the year.

Anthony, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior linebacker, recorded 123 tackles and four sacks, as the Bearcats finished 3-8 this past season. Anson Senior allowed 89.6 rushing yards and 147.4 passing yards per game.

Anthony was credited with six pass breakups, two interceptions and two forced fumbles, while 16 of his tackles resulted in lost yardage for opponents. An All-American and also a running back for Anson, he rushed for 302 yards and seven touchdowns on 50 carries. On special teams, he returned 14 kickoffs for 498 yards.

Also a baseball, wrestling and track standout, Anthony has maintained a 3.57 weighted GPA. He has volunteered locally as a youth athletic instructor and mentor to elementary school students.

SEC title game could hurt S.C. preps

South Carolina football fans can watch their Gamecocks try to win the SEC championship Saturday or watch their local high school team go after a state title. It's a dilemma that could impact the bottom line of the governing body for prep sports.

The S.C. High School League depends on a healthy gate from its four state title games at Williams-Brice Stadium, home of South Carolina's SEC Eastern Division champs, to support its activities for the year.

However, this year's championships on Friday and Saturday compete with the Gamecocks championship game with Auburn.

The final two prep games - Pageland Central vs. Dillon for the Class 2A title at 3 p.m. and Myrtle Beach vs. South Pointe for the Class 3A title at 6 p.m. - will run up against USC-Auburn, which starts at 4 in Atlanta.

S.C. High School League Commissioner Jerome Singleton is worried that the league will sell fewer $10 tickets because of the conflict and hurt the league's financial situation. "Certainly we depend heavily on the gate," Singleton said. "It's a million-dollar operation," he said.

If the drop is too much, Singleton says he might have to look at cost-cutting measures.

"Hopefully, we won't have to eliminate services," he said. Associated Press

Schedule

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

North Carolina

Tonight's Regional Championship Pairings

EAST

4AA: Cary Panther Creek (13-1) at Wake Forest-Rolesville (13-1)

4A: New Bern (14-0) at Durham Hillside (14-0)

3AA: Northern Guilford (12-2) at Wilson Hunt (12-2)

3A: Eastern Alamance (12-2) at Havelock (11-3)

2AA: Cedar Ridge (12-2) at Northeastern (12-2)