High School Football Powers Hit Stride »
Despite a few lackluster performances over the last few weeks, it looks like the high school football powers have finally found their stride, at least for one week. We'll have to wait for another week to see if it's for real or if it's really a fluke that all of the big three are really starting to fire on all cylinders.
In last night's games, the Butler Bulldogs, the Independence Patriots and the West Charlotte Lions all won fairly easily, making things continue to be crowded at the top of the high school football charts. While Charlotte Latin is still in the mix - and in fact is still undefeated - they didn't fare as well, with their offense having some trouble getting on track, winning only 28-7.
Sure, 28-7 is perfectly respectable (especially if you are the Carolina Panthers, who can't seem to do anything), but for high school football teams in the area surrounding Charlotte, that's barely starting to move - even their coach said as much, and that the Hawks just weren't hungry. The two-time defending private school champions need to get going.
As to the rest of the bunch, the Butler Bulldogs beat up on Myers Park, 42-14. That's a score, and what is perhaps the most interesting, it may have been the weakest performance of the group! This was the sixth time the Bulldogs topped 40 points (the one they didn't was when they lost to the Lions). It was a good victory for them.
After the tragic loss to Cincinnati Elder that ended the near-record win streak, it was a question of whether the Independence Patriots could continue their winning ways. Their state winning streak (standing at 7) was in trouble, especially when quarterback troubles surfaced. Injuries hadn't been a problem for coach Tom Knotts, and suddenly they came charging. They seem to have gone away with a monstrous 61-3 whipping of Ardrey Kell this week. Ardrey Kell is on a 3-game slide, so it's not the Second Coming - or maybe it is. The Second Coming of the Big I, that is.
Meanwhile, the West Charlotte Lions aren't interested in being left out in the cold. Wanting to be taken seriously is part of their game plan, and they showed that they can play with the big boys when they beat Butler earlier this year (though they couldn't beat Independence). So what did they do this week? Stomped Concord Robinson 62-6 in another snoozer.
Now do you see why 28-7 just isn't that good?
