Two football games to choose from on Friday
Anyone who follows high-school football in North Carolina knows the first round of the playoffs is a yawner. Too many teams play that first week that should have already packed the equipment away.
The real stuff starts this week, and the real, real stuff gets going next week. But there are two marquee games in Winston-Salem on Friday.
Everyone knows about the Mount Tabor-Reynolds game. It’s a must-see, and I will be there for the rematch. But I wish once again that I could be in two places at once. Because the Lincolnton-Carver 2-A game holds a ton of promise.
Coach Brent David of Carver is one of the most passionate football guys I have had the pleasure of talking to. And he cranks it up another notch for the playoffs. He did so much research getting ready for Friday’s game that it wouldn’t surprise me if he knows the shoe sizes of each Lincolnton player, probably right down to the trainers.
I predicted at the start of the season that Carver was going to be around for a while. The Yellowjackets were 2-4 after running through a gauntlet of Class 4-A teams, but they have won six straight, allowing only 17 points in that span.
I don’t think the 2-A powers-that-be are going to enjoy having Carver around. And I don’t think Lincolnton is going to enjoy playing against that defense.
Two weeks down the road, I think Carver will be playing in the semifinals — either at home against Thomasville, or on the road at Starmount.
And for the life of me, I can’t see Mount Airy having to break a sweat until the Class 1-A state championship. Looking forward to seeing the Bears at BB&T Field on Dec. 12