Gaston, Lincoln and Cleveland Week 3 Picks

Game of the Week: Kings Mountain (2-0) @ Forestview (2-0): Both the Jaguars and the Mountaineers are off to a great start so far. Both have won their first two games by double-digit scores. Both teams feel like they have something to prove this year. Kings Mountain started 2-0 last year prior to this matchup but lost 41-14 to Forestview and did not taste another victory for the remainder of the year. Kings Mountain is out to show they are much different than last year’s team and with many starters back from last year, this game should be much more competitive. Forestview is looking for their first 3-0 start since 2003 and are off to show that last year’s fourth-round playoff team was no fluke. One thing to consider, this series has not favored the home team. In the last ten games between these two, the road team is 8-2. Will the trend continue or will the Jaguars break it tonight? This game should be a barnburner.

My pick: Forestview 42 – Kings Mountain 38

East Lincoln (2-0) @ North Lincoln (2-0): Is North Lincoln for real this year? It sure looks like it with their 2-0 start beating two county rivals, Lincolnton and West Lincoln. The Knights are hoping to make a clean sweep of their county rivals for the first time in school history. East Lincoln put up 34 points in the first half against the Q Foundation, but gave up 18 points in the third quarter alone. Defensively, the Knights have only given up 20 points in two contests. But they will be tested as they face the Surratt brothers. This game could go down to the wire.

My pick: East Lincoln 24 – North Lincoln 21

South Point (0-2) @ Shelby (2-0): South Point 0-3? Very likely! South Point has struggled this year so far, being routed 35-13 by Crest and came up one point short against Lincolnton in a 14-13 decision after the Red Raiders went for the win on the two-point conversion and failed. Now they have to face the top-ranked 2A team in the state in Shelby. The Golden Lions are coming off two lopsided wins over Polk County (50-20) and A.C. Reynolds (26-14, it was 26-7 at some point in the second half). One thing’s for sure though, one should never count South Point out. In 2001, the Red Raiders started 1-3 and still ended up with a share of the Big South 3A title and made it into the second round of the playoffs.

My pick: Shelby 31 – South Point 14

North Gaston (1-1) @ Lincolnton (1-1): Both teams are 1-1 on the year. But the odds favor Lincolnton in this game. The Wolves lost week one two county rival, North Lincoln. But they bounced back last week in their 14-13 win over South Point. North Gaston opened the season up with a 26-16 win over Bessemer City, but fell flat against East Rutherford last week 29-7. The Wildcats have struggled offensively so far and will need to solve their offensive woes in order to have a chance against the Wolves.

My pick: Lincolnton 28 – North Gaston 10

Bessemer City (1-1) @ Hunter Huss (0-2): After a 34-21 loss to Kings Mountain and a 53-7 thrashing by Vance, the Huskies are hungry for their first win of the season. The Yellow Jackets picked up their first win of the season with a 24-16 win over rival, Cherryville. The week prior, Bessemer City kept pace with North Gaston until the Wildcats pulled away with a 26-16 win. This time last year, Hunter Huss started 0-2 and got their first win against the Yellow Jackets with a 35-0 shutout. But this is a different year and anything could happen in this game. Of the two losses Huss suffered against Bessemer, none of them were at home.

My pick: Hunter Huss 28 – Bessemer City 14

Asheville (2-0) @ Ashbrook (1-1): This should be another intriguing matchup for area fans. For six quarters, Ashbrook’s offense has not been able to get much going. After scoring 20 first half points against Burns, the Bulldogs held them to only three and the Crest Chargers never let them get back on track the following week. In fact, their only score was on an interception return for a touchdown. Asheville has put up 49 points in both games so this will be another tough task for the Green Wave defense. History is on the Green Wave’s side as they have taken the last two from the Cougars, including a 22-19 win in the 2002 playoffs in route to Ashbrook’s 3AA state title and last year’s 23-14 win in Asheville.

My pick: Ashbrook 28 – Asheville 24

Freedom (2-0) @ Burns (0-1): Another tough task stands in front of the Bulldogs as they host the Freedom Patriots. Freedom has scored 126 points total these past two weeks and have allowed only seven. The Bulldogs are coming off a bye week, but they have to find some offense in order to compete with a hot Freedom team.

My pick: Freedom 42 – Burns 7

West Lincoln (1-1) @ Cherryville (1-1): Both teams started the season on the right foot with wins. Both teams are coming off losses now. The Rebels lost 20-7 last week to North Lincoln. Cherryville lost 24-16 to Bessemer City. Both are hoping to right the ship with a win.

My pick: West Lincoln 24 – Cherryville 20

First Assembly of Concord (0-2) @ Highland Tech (0-1): Both teams are winless on the season. Highland Tech was shut out last week and First Assembly only has 14 points on the year.

My pick: First Assembly 35 – Highland Tech 6