MaxPreps Top 10 high school football games of the week

Independence (Charlotte, N.C.) at Butler (Matthews, N.C.)

What to watch: Independence (10-0) is closing in on its first season with at least 11 wins since 2009. That was the last year of the Tommy Knotts era, during which the Patriots won six state titles and had the second-longest winning streak in history (109 games) between 2000-07. Independence went 8-1 against Butler from 2004 to 2008, but Butler has answered with nine consecutive wins to shift the balance of power in the rivalry to its side. Independence was known for its high-powered offense last decade, but it has a dominant defense this year that has recorded six shutouts in 10 games. The only loss for Butler (9-1) this season was a 55-54 road squeaker against unbeaten Richmond (Rockingham) on Sept. 19.

Follow live scoring of this game on Qwixcore

Just the facts: Junior Quantavious McGill ran for a season-high 267 yards and four touchdowns on only 15 carries in Independence's 47-19 blowout of Rocky River (Mint Hill) last week, according to the Charlotte Observer. … Senior quarterback Anthony Ratliff-Williams totaled 333 combined passing and rushing yards with six touchdowns in Butler's last game, a 55-0 rout of Porter Ridge (Indian Trail) on Oct. 24.

Mitch Stephens: Butler 21, Independence 20
Kevin Askeland: Butler 28, Independence 21
Jamie DeMoney: Butler 29, Independence 24
Stephen Spiewak: Independence 35, Butler 31
Leland Gordon: Butler 30, Independence 28
Colin Ward-Henninger: Butler 24, Independence 20