Independence vs. Mallard Creek headlines football doubleheader at Memorial Stadium

Four Mecklenburg County high school football teams will play in a doubleheader at newly renovated Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 22.

At 5 p.m., Myers Park will play Charlotte Country Day. At 8 p.m., Mallard Creek, the reigning N.C. 4AA champion, will play Independence in a game that will feature two of the state’s premier progams.

In the opener, which will feature a rare Mecklenburg County public school vs. private matchup, new Country Day coach Drew Witman will face his old team in Myers Park, where he was defensive coordinator last season. He was named head coach this week at Charlotte Country Day , where he replaced his father, Bob Witman, who led the Bucs to eight state championships in 25 seasons.

Myers Park will begin its second season under coach Scott Chadwick. The Mustangs were 5-7 last season.

The second game, Mallard Creek vs. Independence, features teams that have won nine state championships in the past 15 seasons. They haven’t played each other since August 2010. Mallard Creek won 26-6 to start the season. Independence leads the teams’ series 2-1.

Independence , 12-1 last season, will be led by first-year coach Justin Hardin, who left Providence this year to join the Patriots.

▪ A portion of proceeds raised (tickets are $10) from the doubleheader will go to participating schools and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ middle-school athletics.

▪ Memorial Stadium has been outfitted with a new press box on the stadium’s north side , a new northside concourse and improved bleacher seating.

This story was originally published May 14, 2015 at 3:18 PM with the headline "Independence vs. Mallard Creek headlines football doubleheader at Memorial Stadium."