nTime: 7:30 p.m.
nBracket: 3A West
nSeeds: No. 10 Rutherfordton-Spindale Central Hilltoppers vs. No. 7 South Rowan Raiders
nHead coaches: R-S Central: Mike Cheek; South: Jason Rollins (4th year, 20-25)
nRecords: R-S Central 8-3; South Rowan 9-2
Massey ratings: (No. 109) R-S Central vs. (No. 47) South
n R-S Central offense: 26.9 ppg
n R-S Central defense: 12.7 ppg
n South offense: 36.9 ppg
n South defense: 16.4 ppg
n R-S Cent. vs. winning teams: 2-2n South vs. winning teams: 4-2
n South at home: 6-0
n R-S Central on the road: 3-2
n Who beat R-S Central? Shelby (10-1), Tuscola (9-1-1), Burns (5-6)
Who beat South? Northwest Cabarrus (8-3), West Rowan (11-0)
nSeries: First meeting
nNext week: Winner takes on the West Rowan-Freedom winner
nGame notes: South’s draw could’ve been a lot easier even though the Hilltoppers come in on a two-game losing streak. R-S Central had its open date last Friday.
On paper, R-S Central was the second-best team in the 3A/2A South Mountain Valley Conference, although a loss to Burns knocked the Hilltoppers down to third place in the final standings. R-S Central beat Polk County (9-2) on the road, and Polk handed Tuscola its only loss, so the Hilltoppers aren’t a typical No. 10 seed. QB Jake Kinlaw throws often and leads the offense along with running back Oddie Murray.
Middle linebacker Cadarreus Mason anchors South’s defense.
Quarterback Blake Houston has 1,084 passing yards and 592 rushing yards. Houston is 81 yards away from Charles Sherrill’s school record for total offense in a season set in 1997. ó Mike London