Hoping somebody else would go first but here's mine:
West Lincoln at Bandys: I really don't know what to expect. Thought West would be down this year even knowing they are well coached, but then they beat North Lincoln who beat us the following week. Most say you can't go by that but it leaves an impression on me. By what others say, Bandys looks good so I'm a little puzzled on this one. I'm going with West by 6.
Maiden at East Burke: Last fall was the first time I had seen East Burke play. They appear to play with a chip on their shoulder. Our guys are pretty physical but several were bruised up after playing the Cavaliers, or so I heard. In this conference Maiden will be hard to beat but they can't let their guard down and take EB lightly. Maiden by 10.
Newton-Conover at West Caldwell: The Red Devils by 14.
Bunker Hill at
Lincolnton: Well, I'd just as soon not discuss this because to me, it's the "elephant in the room".
The reason is in my mind it's like playing South Point or East Lincoln, again. These guys (BH) beat us last year without their ace running back. On top of that they held us to a measly six points. They can run and pass. Last season, their quarterback had one game where his completion percentage was under .500, against the Community School of Davidson, but there was no need for passing as their running game carried them. I noticed that, too. if someone slows the run they will take to the air and have amassed big numbers doing both. This is the same team as last year just a year better.
We absolutely have to play as hard as we can and do our best, and I have confidence in the Wolves, but I always do. I also never pick against them. Lincolnton by 1.
Postscript: BFR, last year was the first time I'd been to the East Burke stadium. It's an impressive place, and seems like someone said there had been some recent renovations. The visitors' stands were quite large and built into the side of a small mountain (Think I'd heard they changed it to the home side, this year). The people and staff were cordial as well. After the game was over I stayed there a while until a lady came by and asked if someone was coming after me. I thanked her and told her I was waiting for the traffic to thin out and that it was kind of nice sitting there on the side of the hill. Looking forward to coming back, sometime.