Staff report

TROUTMAN — On paper it looked like a 50/50 game, but South Iredell blew out A.L. Brown 38-17 on Friday for a Greater Metro Conference win.

The Vikings led 31-3 at halftime.

The teams traded early field goals, but South Iredell had a 28-0 edge in the second quarter.

A.L. Brown’s touchdowns came after the outcome was no longer in doubt. Backup QB AJ Settles threw a TD pass to Ke’shaun Kellam and Jahazzi Cauthen had a rushing TD.

South Iredell racked up 10 tackles for loss, including three by linebacker Jake Garwood.

It was an immense victory for South Iredell (5-3, 3-1), as the Vikings are 26th in the 4A West RPI rankings and are in position to make the 4A state playoffs.

It was a devastating loss for the Wonders (4-4, 2-3), who are in danger of missing those playoffs, as they dropped to 34th in the 4A West RPI rankings.

Next for the Wonders is Mooresville at home.

Mooresville is only 17th in the 4A West RPI rankings despite a dominant season and a 7-1 record. That’s mostly because GMC squads Hickory Ridge and Cox Mill are 0-8. That really hurts the opponents’ winning percentage component of Mooresville’s rating — as well as A.L. Brown’s.

Lake Norman (18th) and West Cabarrus (27th) are the other GMC teams in position to make the playoffs.