Time: 7:30 p.m.
Records: A.L. Brown 1-0; South Rowan 0-1
Series: Wonders lead 40-8-2, the teams have played every season since South opened in 1961
Last meeting: Wonders battered the Raiders 45-7 in 2010 at Memorial Stadium
Streak: South pulled out a 21-19 decision in 2009, but the Wonders have won six of the last seven meetings and 14 out of 16
Last week: The Wonders jumped all over Shelby early and held on to win 43-24; South piled up yardage but lost to Central Cabarrus 31-23
Next week: Brown is home against the Rocky River Ravens, a second-year school in Mint Hill; South is home against NW Cabarrus
Game notes: South’s infrequent victories in this neighborhood rivalry have sometimes come when they were least expected, but you can probably get South and 25 points tonight if you’re inclined to wager against a friend sitting on the opposite side of Donnell Stadium.
Why? Well, South lost to a school that hadn’t won on the field since 2007 last week, while Brown was busy beating one of the state’s top 2A teams.
The positive for South in Week 1 was prolific offense — 384 net yards — admittedly against a defense that isn’t as tenacious or athletic as the one it will be up against tonight. Nathan Lambert threw for 230 yards against Central, and Josh Medlin and Brandon Williams both had more than 100 receiving yards.
While Lambert is the county’s leading passer after Week 1, South workhorse Ricky Sherrill (29 carries, 141 yards) ranks as the leading rusher.
Brown answers with elusive backs in UNC commitment Damien Washington and Kalif Phillips and a determined defense that is sparked by safety Kaleel Hollis.