Independence and Butler could meet in a NC 4A quarterfinal ... if both teams win Friday
If Butler High School and Independence win North Carolina 4A third-round playoffs game Friday, the Mecklenburg County teams could meet in a 4A state quarterfinal next week. The schools are just few miles apart on the southeastern end of Mecklenburg County, in Matthews and Mint Hill, and they are friendly but bitter rivals.
Independence coach DJ McFadden said he’s not thinking much about it. At least not yet.
McFadden’s Patriots (9-3) will play at the No. 2 overall seed in the 4A West Friday, facing Watauga (12-0).
“Watauga’s got some good-looking kids, and a lot of them go both ways,” McFadden said. “They may not wow you with athleticism and speed and all that, but they are very good at what they do, very sound. They’ll try to lull you to sleep and pop one on you. We’ve got to down there and be sound, tackle the football, play assignment football. I think if we do that, and execute on offense, we’ll be fine, but that’s easier said than done.”
Butler (11-1), which beat Independence in the Southwestern 4A regular-season championship last month, has won its two playoff games by a combined score of 86-14 and will be favored against Mount Tabor (8-4) on Friday. Mount Tabor, however has won six straight games.
Independence, meanwhile, will look for its third straight road win two hours from home.
Watauga beat a pair of Charlotte-area schools in the first two rounds, stopping Hickory Ridge and Mallard Creek. Mallard Creek beat Independence 28-14 to start the season in August.
“I know the stigma with those mountain teams,” McFadden said, “but, well, they’ve already beaten two Charlotte teams and they beat a dang good Mallard Creek team that went up there. We can’t afford to overlook these guys. They’ve got all of our attention, and we don’t know if Butler is going to make it out of their game to even try to look ahead. We’ve got to take care of what’s in front of us. We’ve got our hands full going up that mountain.”
