Email
Print
COLUMN: Rivalry games highlight last week of regular season
R&L file photo
West Iredell’s P.J. Clyburn (left) looks for open space as Statesville defenders converge on him during last year’s game. Statesville won that contest 17-7 to end its slide in the series with the Warriors.
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: November 6, 2009
There's been a lot of change, and sometimes confusion, in the high school football landscape after realignment went into effect this season.
One huge positive locally, though, is the addition of what I'll call Rivalry Week.
The two biggest area football games all year have to be Mooresville vs. Lake Norman and West Iredell vs. Statesville.
With the Blue Devils and Wildcats leaving the North Piedmont Conference and moving into the 4A ranks, all four schools had a chance to reconfigure their schedules.
Thankfully, both leagues got it right by putting these matchups at the end of the season.
Now the regular season ends properly and — although not this year — some serious playoff and conference standings implications will usually be up for grabs.
It's always fun to end the season against your biggest rival, and these two games have no shortage of storylines.
Mooresville is looking for its first win, and how sweet would it be to come at the expense of Lake Norman?
I won't go so far to say that beating the Wildcats would save Mooresville's season, but it would come awfully close.
Meanwhile, Statesville is playing for a shot at the playoffs while a West Iredell win would give the Warriors a better playoff matchup.
You know those Warrior players would like nothing better than to deny Statesville a shot at the postseason.
PLAYOFF PUSH
As a Chicago Cubs fan, I'm quite used to the saying "Wait 'til next year."
It's a perfect slogan for Iredell County football teams.
The playoffs start next week, and there will likely be three area teams.
Of those three, South Iredell and West Iredell face a long road trip, and even longer odds to make it to the second round.
It's been a strange year in that regard.
With the exception of Lake Norman, every football team is in position to be much better in 2010.
Statesville, West Iredell and Mooresville are all very young, South Iredell is junior-heavy and North Iredell is still in the midst of turning the program around.
While that's great for future hopes, it has led to a somewhat forgettable 2009.
Two years ago, there were four 1,500-yard rushers in Iredell County.
In 2008, Statesville, Mooresville and Lake Norman all had memorable seasons.
What's the defining moment this year?
Off the top of my head, I can't think of one.
QUICK HITS
-- For some reason, one of the most-asked questions I get is whether Mooresville coach Steve McCurry should be asked to step down.
Of course not.
Look, it was going to be a rebuilding year at Mooresville, regardless of who was the coach.
When the offense undergoes a complete cultural makeover, and the defense has up to seven underclassmen starting, there are going to be some growing pains.
-- I'd never seen a team score even 50 points in a game before last week. I was on hand for South Rowan's 76-22 thrashing of Statesville.
A lot of those touchdowns came on fluke defensive or special teams plays, but I was surprised to see the Raiders pass for a 25-yard touchdown to make it 69-6.
Despite the final score, Greyhounds coach Randall Gusler was classy as always after the game.
-- Some area fans have very short memories.
Lake Norman went 4-0 against county teams not in the 4A classification this year. Then the belly-aching began about how big, powerful Lake Norman should play teams in its own classification rather than 2A and 3A teams.
Please.
Lake Norman has had a higher enrollment than other county schools for a long time.
When the Wildcats were going through 1-10 seasons, it was never a problem.
Now that the program has really started to rise, suddenly it has become unfair for the Wildcats to play those intra-county games.
You can't have it both ways.
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
