Independence (Charlotte, N.C.) at Butler (Matthews, N.C.)
Demetree Hardison and Independence look to get back to the championship form they were accustomed to in the 2000s. Butler is certain to put up a tough challenge.
Photo by Keith Coward
Independence once towered over North Carolina's prep football scene, winning 109 consecutive games overall and seven Class 4A titles in a row during the 2000s. Things began to change on the final week of the 2007 regular season when Butler ended the Patriots' 114-game in-state winning streak. The Bulldogs went on to also win five of the next eight games in the series and capture two state titles while Independence has won zero.
View our playoff brackets from all over the nationIndependence would capture its first Southwestern 4A Conference title since 2008 with a win against three-time defending champ Butler. The Patriots (9-1) have averaged more than 45 points in their last seven games thanks in large part to junior running back
Isiah Robinson, who has more than 1,000 rushing yards this season.
Remarkably, Butler didn't seem to miss a beat when Ferguson went down with a broken hand. The Bulldogs dominated in all six games played without their Tennessee-bound quarterback, winning by an average margin of 46 points.
Mitch Stephens: Butler 35, Independence 26
Steve Montoya: Butler 24, Independence 21
Stephen Spiewak: Butler 48, Independence 17
Kevin Askeland: Butler 48, Independence 24
Leland Gordon: Butler 42, Independence 27
Jamie DeMoney: Butler 48, Independence 21
