Observer-area games to watch
Week 1
No. 3 Independence vs. No. 1 Mallard Creek, Memorial Stadium, Saturday: Each team lost once last season. They are N.C. 4AA state title contenders.
No. 5 Charlotte Catholic at No. 12 Charlotte Christian, Friday: Catholic reached the N.C. 4A public final last season. Christian’s won three private-school titles in a row.
Concord at AL Brown, Thursday: North Carolina’s oldest rivalry renews. Time Warner Cable will televise it live. Winner gets the Victory Bell.
Others: No. 9 Ardrey Kell at No. 11 Weddington, Friday; South Point at Crest, Friday; Charlotte Country Day vs. Myers Park at Memorial Stadium, Saturday
Week 2 (Games Aug. 28, unless noted)
No. 2 Butler at No. 1 Mallard Creek: These two have won five of the past six N.C. 4AA championships.
Scotland County at No. 3 Independence: Scotland is No. 2 in the NCpreps.com 4A state poll behind Mallard Creek, the team Independence plays Week 1.
Others: Bessemer City at Mountain Island Charter; Crest at Ashbrook; Myers Park at Ardrey Kell; Charlotte Christian at Myrtle Beach (Aug. 29)
Week 3 (Games Sept. 4, unless noted)
No. 1 Mallard Creek at Byrnes (S.C.): Nnational powers hook up in a cross-state matchup.
Others: No. 12 Charlotte Christian vs. No. 11 Weddington at Monroe, Sept. 5; York at South Pointe; Shelby at South Point
Week 4 (Games Sept. 11)
No. 2 Butler at Richmond Senior: State championship contenders to clash in one of the state’s best venues.
No. 6 South Pointe at No. 4 Vance: Another great cross-state matchup between state championship contenders.
Others: No. 9 Ardrey Kell at No. 8 Hough; Concord at No. 14 Hickory Ridge; Monroe at No. 11 Weddington; Rocky River at No. 5 Charlotte Catholic; Wilmington Hoggard at No. 12 Charlotte Christian;
Week 5 (Games Sept. 18)
No. 3 Independence at No. 4 Vance: Vance coach Aaron Brand was a former state championship assistant at Independence.
No. 7 Northwestern at No. 6 South Pointe: Teams could bring 4A and 3A state titles to Rock Hill this year.
Others: Community School of Davidson at Davidson Day; No. 8 Hough at No. 2 Butler; McDonough (MD) at Mallard Creek
Week 6 (Games Sept. 25)
Rocky River at Myers Park: Independence and Butler are expected to battle for the Southwestern 4A title, but this matchup features two league darkhorses.
Others: Monroe at No. 13 Cuthbertson; Hopewell at No. 8 Hough
Week 7 (Games Oct. 2)
No. 12 Charlotte Christian at Charlotte Latin: A pair of league rivals and state title contenders meet
Others: A.L. Brown at No. 4 Vance; No. 16 East Lincoln at Lincolnton; West Charlotte at North Mecklenburg
Week 8 (Games Oct. 9)
No. 8 Hough at No. 1 Mallard Creek: League rivals will play a game that could determine the MECKA 8 champion.
Others: No. 12 Charlotte Christian at Liberty Christian (Va.); Community School of Davidson at Bessemer City; Myers Park at No. 2 Butler
Week 9 (Games Oct. 16)
No. 1 Mallard Creek at No. 4 Vance: Mallard Creek was 4AA champion last season; Vance made 4A semifinals.
No. 13 Cuthbertson at No. 11 Weddington: Rematch of the N.C. 3AA semifinals and possibly the Southern Carolina league title game, too.
Others: No. 2 Butler at Rocky River; Berry at Harding; No. 5 Charlotte Catholic at South Meck; Davidson Day at Charlotte Latin; No. 15 Providence at No. 9 Ardrey Kell
Week 10 (Games Oct. 23)
No. 3 Independence at Myers Park: Mustangs will try to upset one of Southwestern league favorites at home.
Others: Concord at West Rowan; Forestview at Ashbrook; Providence Day at Country Day
Week 11 (Games Oct. 30)
No. 5 Charlotte Catholic at No. 9 Ardrey Kell: Catholic won last season on a last-minute drive.
Others: Country Day at Charlotte Latin; Mooresville at Lake Norman; No. 3 Independence at Rocky River; South Mecklenburg at No. 15 Providence; Northwestern at Rock Hill
Week 12 (Games Nov. 6)
No. 2 Butler at No. 3 Independence: Mecklenburg County’s top rivalry renews -- and almost always decides the Southwestern 4A title.
Others: No. 9 Ardrey Kell at South Meck; Ashbrook at Hunter Huss; Forest Hills at Monroe; No. 15 Providence at No. 5 Charlotte Catholic; No. 4 Vance at No. 8 Hough; No. 11 Weddington at Marvin Ridge; West Rowan at No. 14 Hickory Ridge
Langston Wertz Jr.
This story was originally published August 15, 2015 at 11:20 AM with the headline "Observer-area games to watch."