Gaston and Lincoln Round 2 Playoff Picks

Game of the Week: 3A: #6 South Point (8-4) @ #3 Concord (12-0): Last year, South Point’s playoff run ended at the hands of the Concord Spiders. But the Red Raiders are hoping for some payback and redemption. South Point had a rough start to begin the year off as they were 1-3. But they have won eight of their last nine games. Of all the games they have lost, none of them have been on the road. So that could work in South Point’s favor. Concord is coming off a third consecutive undefeated regular season. They are two-time 3A runners up, losing to Havelock both times. The Spiders’ only concern now is getting past a dangerous South Point team.

Prior to last year’s meeting, the Red Raiders and the Spiders met three times, all three were in South Point. In 2000, South Point won 28-13. The Red Raiders won again in similar fashion in 2001, 26-13. But when they met in 2003, it wasn’t even close. The Red Raiders ran away with a 69-21 victory, in route to their 2003 state title. Look for this game to be as close as last year’s matchup.

My pick: South Point 28 – Concord 21

3A #5 Pisgah (9-3) @ #4 Forestview (10-2): For the first time in school history, Forestview makes back-to-back appearances in the second round of the playoffs. The Jaguars are hoping for the exact same result as last year when they edged Freedom 35-34. These two teams have never met before, but Black Bears head coach Brett Chappell has faced the Jaguars in the past. That was ten years ago (2004) when East Henderson, the team he coached then, visited Forestview and left with a 29-13 victory.

But this is a different year and a different ball game. Look for this to go down to the wire.

My pick: Forestview 35 – Pisgah 28

1AA #5 Starmount (9-3) @ #4 Bessemer City (9-3): Bessemer City advances to the second round of the playoffs by squeaking past North Moore 28-21. They will have a much tougher test against a hot Starmount squad coming off a 75-27 win over Cherryville. Look for another defeat of a Gaston County team at the hands of the Rams.

My pick: Starmount 42 – Bessemer City 14

2AA #13 Parkwood (7-5) @ #5 Lincolnton (10-2): Parkwood made a deep playoff run last year as a #15 seed. This year, they are hoping to do it as a #13 seed. They had a great start of it last week by whipping #4 seed, Hunter Huss, 37-7. But the Wolves will be a tall task for the Rebels, especially in Lincolnton where they have not lost a game this year. All their wins at home were very lopsided. Lincolnton is coming off a 48-14 romping of conference rival, Newton-Conover. Midnight is likely going to come early for Cinderella this time. A win for the Wolves would likely set up a rematch with county-rival, East Lincoln. The Mustangs rolled the Wolves 49-27 earlier.

My pick: Lincolnton 42 – Parkwood 21

2AA #9 R-S Central (8-4) @ #1 East Lincoln (12-0): R-S Central got past Bandys last week in a 29-26 back-and-forth battle. The Hilltoppers will have their hands full against East Lincoln, however. The Mustangs have been rolling through their opponents. Their last eight games were decided by deficits of 21, 22, 31, 34, 35, 48 and 56 points respectively. R-S Central probably won’t have the firepower to match East Lincoln.

My pick: East Lincoln 55 – R-S Central 14