High school football: Here are 7 playoff games to follow Friday night
(Observer Sweet 16 rankings listed with team)
North Mecklenburg (9-3) at No. 2 Mallard Creek (11-0), 7 p.m. (4AA playoffs): The visiting Vikings are coming off an upset of Richmond Senior and will try to avenge a 27-18 loss Oct. 20 to Mallard Creek. The Mavericks had a first-round bye last week.
No. 6 Myers Park (11-1) at No. 7 Butler (8-2), 7 p.m. (4AA): Here’s another rematch, this one from Oct. 6, when Butler won 28-7. The Mustangs dominated the first half of that game but saw their drives stalled. Butler also is coming off a first-round bye.
Porter Ridge (8-4) at No. 5 Harding (10-1), 7 p.m. (4A): No rematch here, but Harding is another team that had a bye last week. The Pirates have two 1,000-yard rushers, but Harding counters with junior Quavaris Crouch, who has rushed for more than 2,000 yards and might be the nation’s No. 1 recruit at his position.
Charlotte Country Day (7-5) at Charlotte Latin (8-4), 7 p.m. (NCISAA 2A title game): It’s the final game for retiring Latin coach Larry McNulty, who is going for his 12th state championship. And it’s another rematch, as Latin outscored Country Day 48-30 on Oct. 27.
No. 16 A.L. Brown (10-2) at South Iredell (10-2), 7:30 p.m. (3AA): A meeting of teams whose quarterbacks had big games last week. Brown’s Jordan Medley threw for 200 yards, and South Iredell’s Brady Pope had 310 passing yards. Each team also had about 450 yards’ total offense in their playoff opener.
No. 14 Shelby (10-2) at No. 10 South Point (12-0), 7:30 p.m. (2AA): Continuing the theme of rematches, South Point will try to repeat its 35-13 romp over the Golden Lions on Nov. 3. Both teams are defending state champions (Shelby in 2AA, South Point in 3A), so somebody’s reign will end Friday night.
Taylors Eastside (11-1) at No. 1 South Pointe (12-0), 7:30 p.m. (S.C. 4A): Eastside quarterback Jordan Morgan has put up video-game numbers this season, passing for nearly 4,000 yards and 45 touchdowns. South Pointe QB Derion Kendrick has 2,000-plus passing yards and has rushed for nearly 1,000.
Steve Lyttle
This story was originally published November 16, 2017 at 5:23 PM with the headline "High school football: Here are 7 playoff games to follow Friday night."