SC powerhouse joins three Charlotte HS football powers for season kickoff on big stage
High school football season will kick off one day early in Charlotte with a doubleheader featuring four powerhouse teams, two of which are multiple state champions.
The annual Charlotte Kickoff Night, sponsored by OrthoCarolina, will be played Thursday, Aug. 18, at Memorial Stadium in uptown Charlotte.
At 5 p.m., South Carolina 5A powerhouse Dutch Fork will play Hough. At 8 p.m., Myers Park will play Mallard Creek.
▪ Dutch Fork was 12-1 last season and reached a sixth straight state championship game. The Silver Foxes lost to Gaffney but have won 62 of their past 63 games. Dutch Fork is coached by Tom Knotts, who once led West Charlotte and Independence to seven state championships and built nationally ranked powerhouses at both schools.
▪ Hough was 14-1 under coach Matt Jenkins last year when the Huskies were nationally ranked. Hough lost to Chambers in the N.C. 4AA state semifinals.
▪ Mallard Creek, which has three N.C. 4AA state championships, was 6-5 last year in coach Kennedy Tinsley’s second season. After a tough start, the Mavericks won three of four games to make a run to the N.C. 4A state quarterfinals. Mallard Creek lost to Hough in that round.
Mallard Creek’s two postseason wins were its first since reaching the N.C. 4AA state championship game in 2017.
▪ New Myers Park coach Jason McManus will debut on a big stage for the Mustangs, who reached the second round of the N.C. 4A playoffs last season.
A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ middle school athletics programs. Tickets, which are available now, are $10 in advance and good for both games.
Opening Weekend in Mecklenburg
High school football season will have a strong opening for Mecklenburg County teams in August. Here’s a look at opening-week games involving Mecklenburg County teams. A complete regional schedule for the season is here.
Thursday, Aug. 18
Dutch Fork vs. Hough, Memorial Stadium
Mallard Creek vs. Myers Park, Memorial Stadium
Friday, Aug. 19
Berry at East Mecklenburg
Charlotte Latin at Christ School
Community School of Davidson at Bessemer City
Corvian Community at Christ The King
Garinger at Harding
Hopewell at Cox Mill
Jay M Robinson at Independence
Legion Collegiate at Providence Day
North Mecklenburg at AL Brown
Palisades at West Mecklenburg
Porter Ridge at Rocky River
Providence at Ardrey Kell
SouthLake Christian at Lake Norman Charter
South Mecklenburg at Charlotte Catholic
Sun Valley at Olympic
Trinity Collegiate at Charlotte Country Day
Wake Christian at Hickory Grove
Weddington at Charlotte Christian
West Charlotte at Butler
Saturday, Aug. 20
Chambers. vs. Cardinal Gibbons at Rock Hill’s District 3 Stadium
Note: schedules subject to change.
This story was originally published June 7, 2022 at 11:00 AM.
