Time: 7:30 p.m.
Records: Hickory Ridge 5-3, 4-0 SPC: A.L. Brown 7-1, 4-0 SPC
Series: Wonders lead 2-0 over the third-year school in Harrisburg
Last meeting: Wonders prevailed 21-6 in 2008
Streaks: Wonders have won their last 10 against Cabarrus opposition. Last loss was to Concord in 2006
Last week: Hickory Ridge knocked off NW Cabarrus, an upset that elevates the Ragin’ Bulls into the SPC title chase; Wonders had a tougher time than expected but subdued Mount Pleasant 28-7
Next week: A.L. Brown is at Northwest Cabarrus; Hickory Ridge is at Concord
Game notes: Next week’s A.L. Brown-Northwest Cabarrus matchup was supposed to decide the SPC, but the Ragin’ Bulls revised that popular theory with a last-minute win that ended Northwest’s five-game winning streak.
Now Hickory Ridge, a team that turned the ball over six times in a loss to East Rowan and was buried by Porter Ridge and Marvin Ridge, owns a three-game winning streak. Besides beating Northwest, the Bulls own a win against Carson.
Hickory Ridge, which trailed Northwest 14-0 and 20-10, showed offensive balance as well as character. Running back Brian Baltimore sparks the Bulls.
Brown has outscored its foes by nearly 200 points this season and is rushing for almost 300 yards per game. The defense has yielded just 14 points the past three games and has forced 25 turnovers this season.
Defensive back Jaques Deese owns two of the team’s four pick-sixes.
Travis Riley has scored 22 TDs. Tevin Jones is emerging as a threat at wideout (23 catches, 340 yards, four TDs), and the Wonders are still unbeaten with QB Martel Campbell in the lineup. ó Mike London