Charlotte-area high school football games of the week | Charlotte Observer

Mallard Creek (1-0) at Butler (1-0), Friday, 7: The top teams in the Observer’s Sweet 16 poll meet. They’ve won six of the past seven 4AA state championships and have developed a bitter rivalry.

East Mecklenburg (1-0) at South Mecklenburg (1-0), Friday, 7: Dating to last season, East Mecklenburg has won four of its past five games, with an average score of 42-7. South Meck upset Marvin Ridge last week and jumped to No. 6 in the Sweet 16. An old-school rivalry has a little more sizzle all of a sudden.

Garinger (0-1) at Harding (0-1), Friday, 7: Harding has lost 10 straight. Garinger hasn’t won since beating Harding 16-14 in October 2011, losing 42 in a row. One team’s losing streak ends Friday.

Lincolnton (1-0) at South Point (1-0), Friday, 7:30: Lincolnton, a 2A school, beat 3A North Lincoln 63-7 in its debut last week. South Point, a 3A team, upset 3A Crest, ending the state champion’s 32-game win streak. State championship contenders to meet.

Monroe (0-1) at Marvin Ridge (0-1), Friday, 7:30: A pair of Sweet 16 teams and Union County rivals meet with both coming off losses in their openers.

Langston Wertz Jr.