How about Hough?
The Huskies last week ended Mallard Creek’s 43-game conference win streak and six-year reign of league dominance 31-28 in overtime. This week, Hough went to A.L. Brown and ended the Wonders’ dream start. A.L. Brown was 7-0 for the first time since 1999 – and rolling.
Marquill Osborne, a Tennessee recruit, had two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, and Hough handled Brown, winning 21-7.
Now the Huskies (7-1, 3-0) have the inside track to a league championship, the school’s first. Hough will be favored in its next two games against West Charlotte and North Mecklenburg. Win those and it’s guaranteed at least a share of the league title.
So it looks like the game with Vance on Nov. 6 will be Hough’s chance for an outright championship.
▪ This is really the first year since the late 1980s when there wasn’t a singular heavyweight in Mecklenburg County football. Tom Knotts’ West Charlotte teams, interrupted a few times by Steve Shaughnessy’s South Meck bunch, ruled the ‘90s. Independence ran things from 2000-08, and since 2009, it has been Butler or Mallard Creek every year since.
When the season began, Mallard Creek looked like it could join 2001 Independence and 2004 Independence as a top 3 team in Mecklenburg County history, but these Mavericks – despite returning the bulk of the 2014 state champions – have struggled. Mallard Creek lost to Byrnes in South Carolina last month, lost in overtime to Hough last week and needed a 2-point Chauncery Bowman conversion run Friday to beat Vance in overtime.
Before having players suspended Butler dominated Hough 35-3 and played Mallard Creek close. Butler is expected to return those players in two weeks. What does it all mean? The 2015 4AA playoffs are wide open.
A Mecklenburg County team might play for an N.C. 4AA state title in December. But which one?
Elevator
↑Lake Norman charity uniforms: Lake Norman wore special jerseys with pink in them Friday to raise cancer awareness. After Lake Norman rallied to beat Alexander Central 40-38, the jerseys were to be raffled off for charity.
↓South Charlotte streaker: At halftime of the Ardrey Kell-Providence rivalry game, a streaker sprinted across the field.
↑Elijah Deveaux, Charlotte Christian: Duke recruit and star of the three-time state champ football team was named Homecoming King Friday. Basketball star Kirstie Phills was named Homecoming Queen.
▪ Sam Howell, Sun Valley: Freshman QB named to MaxPreps national freshman player of the year watch list this week. Howell entered Friday’s game with Marvin Ridge with 1,963 yards passing, which led the nation among ninth graders. He was No. 4, among players in all grades, in North Carolina.
▪ East Lincoln: beat Newton-Conover 48-24 to win 24th straight game and fifth straight against Newton-Conover.
Related stories from Charlotte Observer
Friday’s Top Performers
Chancery Bowman, Mallard Creek: 23 carries, 144 yards in a 22-21 OT win over Vance.
Cade Carney, Davidson Day: 110 yards rushing, two TDs; 100 yards receiving, 1 TD; 46-yard touchdown pass and 39-yard punt return for a score – in a 38-36 rally past Charlotte Latin.
Tyree Hallman, South Iredell: 147 yards, two scores, in No. 16 Vikings 21-10 upset over No. 10 Mooresville.
Bates Jones, Demarkes Stradford, Charlotte Latin: Stradford rushed for 123 yards and three scores; Jones was 16-of-23 for 282 yards and two scores.
Bryce Maginley, Ardrey Kell: 8-for-15 for 192 yards and a score in a 26-17 win over Providence. Also rushed 20 times for 87 yards and two scores.
Luke Miller, Lake Norman: 6 catches, 222 yards receiving in a 40-38 win over Alexander Central. He caught the game-winning 45 yard pass from Hayden Carlson with 2:11 left.
Rud Yearick, Metrolina Christian: Sparked 41-0 win over Northside Christian, completing 15-of-25 passes for 280 yards and three scores, plus rushing five times for 150 yards and another TD.
Friday’s Roundup
West Charlotte 26, Hopewell 21: West Charlotte (2-7, 1-3) MECKA ended a five-game losing streak. Hopewell dipped to 1-8, 0-4.
Cannon 31, Asheville School 7: Cannon improved to 5-3 under first-year coach and former Carolina Panther Brad Hoover.
Providence Day 54, Carolina Pride 7: Gabe Montgomery rushed 14 times for 95 yards and four scores. QB John Schweitzer threw for 81 yards and two scores and ran for 97 yards and a score. Scott Peterson caught six passes for 55 yards and a score.
Independence 65, Garinger 7: Garinger lost its 38th straight game. Independence (5-3, 3-0) remained in first place in the Southwestern 4A.
West Meck 17, Olympic 14: One week after upsetting No. 12 South Meck, the Hawks backed up their win by holding off Olympic. West Meck (4-4, 2-2) is in third place in the SoMeck 8 and in playoff contention.
Berry 52, Harding 8: Berry (4-4, 1-3 SoMeck) got its first league win and ended a three-game losing streak. Harding fell to 1-7, 0-4.
Langston Wertz Jr.: 704-358-5133, lwertz@charlotteobserver.com, @langstonwertzjr
How the Sweet 16 fared
Rank, school | Cl. | Friday’s result | Rec. |
1. Char. Catholic | 4A | d. No. 12 South Mecklenburg 10-7 | 7-0 |
2. Northwestern | 4A | d. Clover 63-0 | 7-1 |
3. A.L. Brown | 4A | lost 21-7 to No. 5 Hough | 7-1 |
4. South Pointe | 3A | d. Lancaster 16-7 | 7-1 |
5. Hough | 4 | d. No. 3 A.L. Brown 21-7 | 7-1 |
6. Mallard Creek | 4A | d. No. 7 Vance 22-21 OT | 7-2 |
7. Vance | 4A | lost 22-21 in OT to No. 6 Mallard Creek | 5-3 |
8. Butler | 4A | d. Rocky River 16-14 | 7-2 |
9. Weddington | 3A | d. Cuthbertson 27-17 | 7-1 |
10. Mooresville | 4A | lost 21-10 to No. 16 South Iredell | 5-3 |
11. East Lincoln | 2A | d. Newton-Conover 48-24 | 8-0 |
12. South Mecklenburg | 4A | lost 10-7 to No. 1 Charlotte Catholic | 6-2 |
13. Davidson Day | IND | d. Charlotte Latin 38-36 | 8-0 |
14. Monroe | 2A | d.. Mount Pleasant 45-20 | 8-0 |
15. Concord | 3A | d. Carson 35-14 | 7-1 |
16. South Iredell | 3A | d. No. 10 Mooresville 21-10 | 7-1 |
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