With his teammates all smiles and gathered in a postgame semi-circle, Mallard Creek senior Dwayne Harbison marched into the middle with the Mallard Creek/Vance rivalry bell in hand. “This is ours now,” Harbison said as the Mavericks improved to 8-0.

We're at the midpoint of the 2008 high school football season and a good time to recognize some of the best players in the Observer's 110-school coverage area in North and South Carolina. This team was assembled with the help of coaches, college recruiters and other media members – and going off what I've seen in person and on highlight reels. Langston Wertz Jr.

Nic DeLuca, Alex Garrett and Kareem Kashif have rarely had to make game-changing plays for Charlotte Country Day. But Friday, the trio combined for the biggest two plays as the Buccaneers scored 15 unanswered points in the game's final 10 minutes to beat Crest.

Cliff Mehrtens and Langston Wertz Jr. prepare us for upcoming prep sports in our area.

Use our database to find details, including a map, on the high schools and conferences we cover. You can search by conference or mascot.

Observer staff writer Langston Wertz Jr. answers your sports-related questions. Have one? Post it...

Prep Insiders

Former Panthers star feels he's found his next calling as First Assembly's coach.

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