Week 5 Games To Watch: Charlotte Metro Area + Beyond

There are some more big games in the Charlotte Metro Area this Friday Night, and we will take a look at those contests and highlight some players to watch in these important matchups!   Independence Patriots at Palisades Pumas   Key Players:   ATH Ricky Myers - Independence QB [player_tooltip player_id='915835' first='Jared' last='Street'] - Independence OL [player_tooltip player_id='946623' first='Nori' last='White'] - Independence DB [player_tooltip player_id='402298' first='Nick' last='Reddish'] - Independence LB [player_tooltip player_id='771231' first='Dallas' last='Brannon'] - Independence   OL [player_tooltip player_id='1600466' first='Jamaare' last='Williams'] - Palisades QB [player_tooltip player_id='525514' first='Cole' last='Hough'] - Palisades DB [player_tooltip player_id='1751616' first='Elijah' last='Bachiller'] - Palisades ATH [player_tooltip player_id='378949' first='Nicholas' last='Rankin'] - Palisades RB [player_tooltip player_id='1262278' first='Lincoln' last='Wise'] - Palisades   I have these two teams ranked very closely in Charlotte, and I expect this to be a very intense contest between two very good head coaches in DJ McFadden and Jonathan Simmons. Palisades, as the newer school here, has a chance for a statement victory before heading into conference play next week. Independence has had some defensive issues, but cleaned those up well in a nice win against Lake Norman last week, 26-7. Palisades is coming off a good win, a defensive struggle over a much-improved Chambers, 14-7. The Patriots' offense has been clicking the past couple of weeks, but the most the Pumas have given up this season is 21 to a good Clover (SC) team, so we have a classic strength vs strength matchup here. Usually, it's the opposite battle that determines games like these, so if the Palisades offense can run the ball against the Indy defense, that will be a major key to victory for both teams. Star RB [player_tooltip player_id='1124842' first='Jayden' last='Jones'] has been out the past couple of weeks, so it remains to be seen if Travis Hill will get the bulk of the carries once again in the running game for the Patriots.   South Point Red Raiders at Ashbrook Green Wave   Key Players:   QB [player_tooltip player_id='1277021' first='Patrick' last='Blee'] - South Point FB Kaveaun Pless - South Point OL [player_tooltip player_id='1257011' first='Andrew' last='Wright'] - South Point DB Gavin Smith - South Point DB Kham Crawford - South Point QB [player_tooltip player_id='738731' first='AJ' last='McClain'] - Ashbrook RB [player_tooltip player_id='378966' first='Savion' last='Lindsay'] - Ashbrook OL [player_tooltip player_id='1254553' first='Jonathan' last='Moore'] - Ashbrook LB [player_tooltip player_id='1246060' first='Caleb' last='Gordon'] - Ashbrook DL Quamell Scott - Ashbrook   These are the top two teams in Gaston County, and this has quickly become a rivalry from what happened last season. Ashbrook defeated South Point both in the regular season and in a 2nd round playoff rematch, so the Red Raiders are plenty motivated to prove they are the best team in the county, as they owned that spot for many years. Ashbrook does a great job in defending the triple option in these matchups, so they will have to remain disciplined and make sure they consistently take away the interior and try to string the option out to the sideline. South Point played without QB [player_tooltip player_id='1277021' first='Patrick' last='Blee'] last week, so it remains to be seen if [player_tooltip player_id='1607789' first='Cayden' last='Rumph'] will step in once again at the QB spot. For South Point, they have a veteran secondary who can't go to sleep if Ashbrook wants to throw it, because WR [player_tooltip player_id='1676793' first='Riley' last='Hicks'] has had a strong start to the season with 4 touchdowns in a run-first attack.   Mooresville Blue Devils at East Forsyth Eagles   Key Players   QB [player_tooltip player_id='612118' first='Brody' last='Norman'] - Mooresville RB [player_tooltip player_id='1593034' first='Jadarius' last='McCombs'] - Mooresville TE [player_tooltip player_id='327286' first='Gavin' last='Barber'] - Mooresville DL KJ Gillespie - Mooresville LB [player_tooltip player_id='736711' first='Tanner' last='Finnerty'] - Mooresville WR [player_tooltip player_id='1070820' first='Jaire' last='Richburg'] - East Forsyth RB [player_tooltip player_id='1707495' first='Cannen' last='Rottweiler'] - East Forsyth QB JD Fulp - East Forsyth OL [player_tooltip player_id='1080916' first='Jabian' last='Shabazz'] - East Forsyth LB Junior Solomon - East Forsyth   A rematch of the third-round playoff game last season that East Forsyth won, Mooresville is coming in off playing well but ultimately losing at Hough 28-21. Mooresville led that game at multiple points, though, and the key is keeping the passing game consistent to allow the strong running game to be successful. East Forsyth defensively has been strong in their victories so far this season, but in their only loss to Grimsley, they gave up 48 points, so obviously, for them, the key is to force Mooresville to win through the air and take the ground game away. Offensively, the Eagles have been pretty balanced in their attack, as they have leaned on efficiency and low turnover football to propel them to their 3-1 record. I expect this to be a really good football game, and the Blue Devils have plenty of motivation to get a big road victory here.   Other Matchups To Watch   Cuthbertson at Porter Ridge - [player_tooltip player_id='1671873' first='Mason' last='Iovino'] and the Cavaliers have won two in a row, while [player_tooltip player_id='1600209' first='Raishawn' last='Elmore'] and the Pirates are coming off a victory over South Iredell. Traditional Union County rivalry that should be physical and low scoring.   Reagan at Lake Norman - Very good game as the Raiders, led by [player_tooltip player_id='1617737' first='King' last='Kalama'] defensively, take on a [player_tooltip player_id='1616126' first='Kaden' last='Craft'] led Wildcats squad coming off a disappointing loss at Independence that knocked them down to 3-1 on the season. I expect Lake Norman to come out highly motivated on their home field to bounce back here.   Watauga at Erwin - A little mountain action here as the Pioneers look to be the best team out of the mountains again this year, so far, with a dominant defense. That will be put to the test against an Erwin squad that can put up some points, but is missing their best player, Lawson Reynolds, out due to injury. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1607074' first='Caden' last='Ingle'] will have to be at his best in this one. For Watauga, look for WR [player_tooltip player_id='1868481' first='Evan' last='Burroughs'] to be a big-time playmaker.   Myers Park at Charlotte Christian - Two good teams coming off tough losses, but Mustangs RB Josh Falzarano is having an incredible season, having rushed for 189 yards last week against a tough Mallard Creek defense. Charlotte Christian is coming off a bye week after a tough one-point loss at Independence, where [player_tooltip player_id='1106930' first='Jamal' last='Rule'] rushed for 293 yards, so the ground games will rule this matchup on Friday.   New Bern at Hough - A rare coastal versus Charlotte matchup here as the Bears are coming off a tough loss to Cleveland. RB [player_tooltip player_id='1084981' first='Karvin' last='Magwood'] will have to have a big game in this one to keep it close for a potential upset. The Huskies are undefeated and appear to be the best team in Charlotte, but an uneven performance last week against Mooresville will have Head Coach Deshawn Baker motivating his guys for more consistent play. QB [player_tooltip player_id='254550' first='Ethan' last='Royal'] has looked the part of a talented college football recruit so far this season, making big plays week after week.   Mallard Creek at Cardinal Gibbons - Expect the Mavericks to be fired up for this one. Last season, the weather got the best of this matchup in Charlotte, and even though Mallard Creek was willing to do what it took to get the game played, it just didn't happen. The Mavericks are playing two quarterbacks, but the sophomore RB Xavier Edmond had a bit of a coming-out party with 140 rushing yards in a win over Myers Park. The Crusaders have run the ball well this season between QB [player_tooltip player_id='690769' first='Gannon' last='Jones'] and RB Noah Terry, so I think we have a heck of a game here.

There are some more big games in the Charlotte Metro Area this Friday Night, and we will take a look at those contests and highlight some players to watch in these important matchups!