Lions and Patriots Are On Next Week »
Darius Thomas, the quarterback of the West Charlotte Lions, passed for a near-record 501 yards in leading his team to a 49-27 victory over Richmond Senior. The performance ranks third all-time in Mecklenburg history, behind Thomas' own 512-yard performance earlier this season and that of one Chris Leak, who threw for a 585-yard monster back in 2002.
Speaking of Chris Leak, it is his Independence Patriots - well not his, but his former - that will face the West Charlotte Lions after the Patriots demolished East Burke 48-28. It seems like the Big I machine is rolling once again, after the end to the long victory streak in Cincinnati earlier this year and a loss to Butler not long ago. Reports of their death may have been a bit premature.
The Lions, meanwhile, have come a long way as well. Earlier this year they not only beat Butler handily, but they played a relatively close game when they took in Independence early in the season as well, hanging in there and ending upwith a 49-32 score. Not the best, but certainly not the worst either.
Whatever the result, it should be a classic. I certainly hope it shapes up to be as good as it could be. Whichever team wins goes on to the state championship - it would be the Patriot's eighth straight, or the Lion's eighth overall. Good luck to both teams next week!
