Friday night’s key high school football matchups in the Charlotte area
Mecklenburg contests
No. 7 A.L. Brown (4-0, 0-0 MECKA) at North Mecklenburg (4-1, 0-0), 7
North Mecklenburg has won four games in a row and begins conference play facing another team on a hot streak. Brown has allowed just 31 points all season. And in its past three wins, coach Mike Newsome’s team has allowed 16 points total.
Berry (3-1, 0-0 SoMeck 8) at No. 3 Charlotte Catholic (3-0, 0-0), 7
Berry has been one of the bigger surprises in Mecklenburg County this season, using an offense averaging more than 35 points per game to march off to a hot start. Friday, the Cardinals begin conference play at SoMeck 8 heavyweight Charlotte Catholic, which will try to slow Berry’s high-flying offense with a defense that is allowing only 2 points per game.
Rocky River (1-4, 0-0 Southwestern 4A) at Myers Park (3-2, 0-0), 7
Butler looks like the favorite in this conference, but the other spots below the Bulldogs look wide open. Here are two contenders for a top-three finish and a good playoff seed. Rocky River has lost to 4A powers Richmond and Charlotte Catholic and lost two other games by a combined seven points. Myers Park has won two of its past three, playing Sweet 16 No. 8 South Meck to an overtime loss Sept. 11.
Regional contest
No. 12 Mooresville (2-2) at Statesville (3-1), 7:30
The Iredell County rivals will battle for the Gridiron Cup. Mooresville won 56-12 last season, but Statesville is coming off a win over state power Winston-Salem Carver behind 162 yards rushing from Travis Ramseur.
This story was originally published September 24, 2015 at 3:36 PM with the headline "Friday night’s key high school football matchups in the Charlotte area."