High school football gameday: Preview of “extra-week” games in the Charlotte area

Hurricane Helene caused numerous high school football postponements in late September and early October, and the N.C. High School Athletic Association responded by extending the regular season one week.

This is the “extra week,” and there are two types of games taking place this weekend — rescheduled regular-season games that were postponed; and extra games that schools were permitted to add in this additional weekend.

The rescheduled regular-season games will, in some cases, help determine playoff seedings. Meanwhile, the “extra” games will not count toward regular-season records, RPI ratings and playoff seedings. In this preview, we’ll let you know which category the games fall under.

THURSDAY / MECKLENBURG

Mountain Island Charter (5-5) at Ballantyne Ridge (0-10), 6 p.m. — This is an extra game, and it gives Ballantyne Ridge’s first-year program a bit more game experience to prepare for next year. The game also will give Mecklenburg fans a chance to see Mountain Island Charter QB Grayson Harvey, who has passed for 2,372 yards this season, third-best in the Charlotte region.

FRIDAY / MECKLENBURG

Bonnie Cone Leadership (1-9) at Bessemer City (6-4), 7:30 p.m. — This is an “extra” game, with no impact on the playoffs. Bonnie Cone Leadership is finishing its first varsity season, while Bessemer City will get a tuneup for its 1A playoff run that begins next week. The visiting Eagles have a promising RB in Kendrick Williams, who has three 100-yard games this season. Bessemer City QB Gavin Chastain has thrown for 14 touchdowns this fall.

Charlotte Christian (7-3) at Providence Day (8-2), NCISAA Division 1 playoff semifinal, 7 p.m. — It’s the rematch that fans were waiting for, as the two Sardis Road rivals meet to determine a state finalist. Providence Day beat the Knights 28-14 on Oct. 10, with the Chargers’ Ian Cline rushing for 275 yards. Providence Day was hurt by turnovers in that game, though.

Something to note: Charlotte Christian RB Jamal Rule, who is averaging 165 rushing yards a game, was injured and did not play in that Providence Day game. He is back in the lineup, and that gives the Knights another dimension to their offense this time around.

Hickory Grove Christian (8-3) at Asheville School (5-1), NCISAA Division 2 playoff semifinal, 7 p.m. — Hickory Grove coach Tad Baucom’s goal was to see his team win a playoff game. That happened a week ago, against Covenant Day. Now Baucom and the Lions are aiming for a berth in the NCISAA Division 2 state championship game. The problem is that Asheville School pounded the Lions 42-0 in a regular-season game last month. Hickory Grove will need to shut down Asheville School’s passing attack, led by QB Ricky Tolbert. He threw for four touchdowns against the Lions last month.

Piedmont (2-8) at East Mecklenburg (1-9), 6 p.m. — This is another of those “extra” games, giving some extra playing time to a pair of teams not headed to the playoffs. Piedmont prefers to run the ball, and RB Nathaniel Gagnon has rushed for 1,061 yards this season, with six 100-yard games. The host Eagles counter with a defense led by LB Max Priest, who has 60 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and four sacks this season.

Providence (4-5) at South Mecklenburg (3-6), 7 p.m. — This is a rescheduled regular-season game, and not only does it count for both teams, but it also carries an RPI rating for schools that have beaten Providence or South Mecklenburg this season. Providence would climb very near the cutoff line for a 4A playoff berth with a victory. South Mecklenburg, coming off a big victory over Myers Park, is a longer shot for a playoff spot. The outcome also will affect other teams that have beaten one of these schools this season (for example, Butler, Ardrey Kell, or Myers Park) and are near the playoff cutoff line.

FRIDAY / TOP AREA GAME

Hunter Huss (4-4, 3-3 Big South 3A) at South Point (7-1, 5-1), 7:30 p.m. — This is a rescheduled “for-real” game, and South Point will capture the Big South’s No. 1 playoff seed with a victory. Hunter Huss appears to be safely in the playoff field but would appreciate the insurance with a victory. South Point’s powerful ground game is averaging nearly 300 yards per contest..

Weekend schedule

(all kickoffs at 7 p.m., unless noted otherwise)

THURSDAY

Big South 3A

Crest (7-2, 4-2) at Stuart Cramer (2-7, 1-5)

Nonconference

Central Cabarrus (2-8) at Hickory Ridge (0-10)

Mountain Island Charter (5-5) at Ballantyne Ridge (0-10), 6

Parkwood (3-7) at West Cabarrus (5-5)

FRIDAY

Big South 3A

Hunter Huss (4-4, 3-3) at South Point (7-1, 5-1), 7:30

Kings Mountain (7-2, 5-1) at North Gaston (3-6, 1-5), 7:30

Western Foothills 3A

Fred T. Foard (0-9, 0-6) at West Iredell (2-7, 0-6)

Catawba Valley 2A

Bunker Hill (7-2, 5-1) at West Caldwell (0-9, 0-6), 7:30

Nonconference

Bonnie Cone Leadership (1-9) at Bessemer City (6-4), 7:30

Carolina Bearcats (1-5) at North Wake Saints (4-5), 7:30

Cox Mill (1-9) at Concord (4-6)

Piedmont (2-8) at East Mecklenburg (1-9), 6

Providence (4-5) at South Mecklenburg (3-6)

NCISAA Division 1 semifinals

Charlotte Christian (7-3) at Providence Day (8-2)

Christ School (3-4) at Rabun Gap School (9-2)

NCISAA Division 2 semifinals

Hickory Grove Christian (8-3) at Asheville School (5-1)

Trinity Christian (9-1) at High Point Christian (10-0)

NCISAA 8-man semifinals

Cary Christian (7-1) at Wayne Christian (7-2)

John Paul II Catholic (7-3) at Arendell Parrott Academy (10-1)

S.C. Region 2 2A

Fairfield Central (8-1, 3-0) at Mid-Carolina (5-4, 2-1)

SATURDAY

Catawba Valley 2A

Bandys (6-3, 3-3) at East Burke (2-7, 1-5), 2