Time: 7:30 p.m.
Records: North Rowan 1-4, 1-0 YVC; East Montgomery 3-2, 1-0 YVC
Series: First meeting
Last week: North Rowan beat South Stanly 16-14 for its first victory; East Montgomery won 36-21 at South Davidson
Next week: North Rowan is home against North Moore; East Montgomery is home against South Stanly
Game notes: North changed its outlook for the season with a strong second half and a surprising win at South Stanly. The Cavs were 19-point underdogs, according to national power-ratings guru Ken Massey, when they traveled to Norwood.
In a matter of weeks, fans have gone from wondering if North could win a game to wondering if they can contend in the YVC.
Albemarle and West Montgomery will be tough, but there’s no good reason why the Cavaliers can’t handle the rest of the league.
The strength for North all season has been its ability to stop the run.
The stats are a bit skewed by Shaun Warren and Carson running wild for 280 yards against the Cavs, but North has held three pretty good teams (East Rowan, Lexington and South Stanly) to under 100 yards rushing. North stoned South Stanly, holding the Rowdy Rebel Bulls to 30 yards on the ground.
North has given up a lot of points (26.6 per game), but some of that has to do with offensive turnovers that put the defense in tough spots. North is allowing a respectable 210.8 yards per game, the second-best figure in the county.
North will count on defensive backs Darryl Jackson and Robert Vadi for another good performance.
North’s offense is progressing. The Cavaliers rushed for a season-high 155 yards, including 75 by Vince Shropshire, last week.