Union County's 2013 football schedules much different

For the first time in several years, the football schedules for Union County’s 10 public schools look drastically different in 2013.

Half of those 10 county schools are changing classifications due to the state’s latest realignment.

Piedmont and Cuthbertson are bumping up to 3A after four years in the Rocky River 2A/1A, and will join the Southern Carolina Conference. Sun Valley will remain a member of the SCC — along with Marvin Ridge, Weddington and Anson — but the Spartans are dropping down from 4A to 3A.

So the SCC will remain a six-team league, but will be a 3A league as opposed to a split 4A/3A league as it has been from 2009 through the 2012-13.

Piedmont will renew its rivalry with Sun Valley (Oct. 11) that dates back to the 1960s. The last time they met was 2008, when the Spartans cruised to a 48-10 victory over the Panthers.

“We’re going to see some rematches we haven’t seen in a long time,” said Union County Athletic Director Doug Jones. “It’s going to be great. Everybody wants good gates and to get that you have to play your county rivals.”

The Rocky River Conference will be a 2A-only league starting this August, made up of Monroe, Parkwood, Forest Hills, Central Academy, Mount Pleasant and West Stanly.

Monroe and CATA are moving up from 1A while Parkwood and Mount Pleasant are moving down from 3A.

Because nine Union County teams are among two six-team leagues, both will need a lot of non-conference games.

To cut down on travel and increase gate sales, most of those non-conference games will be intra-county.

Monroe will keep playing Cuthbertson, but it will no longer be an RRC game, and MHS will also keep playing Weddington. The Redhawks, who went 11-5 last year and made the 1A state semifinals, open 2013 at Lexington on Aug. 23.

Parkwood’s schedule is much different, with the Rebels adding Piedmont, Union Academy, Monroe, West Stanly, Cherryville and Jordan Matthews in 2013.

Other than a trip to border rival Anson County and a conference game at Mount Pleasant, Forest Hills doesn’t have to leave Union County in the regular season.

The Jackets have added a home game with North Rowan to the schedule.

Porter Ridge, which has played for the 4A state championship the past two seasons, will have the toughest schedule by far in Union County.

The Pirates are jumping over to a powerhouse league in Charlotte that includes Butler and Independence.

Porter Ridge opens the season with Mallard Creek, which lost to Butler in the 4-AA state semifinals last year.

Butler, which gave Mallard Creek both of its losses last season, went on to win the state.

 

Union County’s 2013

composite football schedule

 

(games start at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise denoted)

 

Aug. 23

Sun Valley at Charlotte Christian

Piedmont at Hickory Ridge

Forest Hills at Anson

Cuthbertson at Parkwood

Ardrey Kell at Weddington

Mount Tabor at Porter Ridge

Monroe at Lexington

North Stanly at Central Academy

 

Aug. 24

Marvin Ridge vs Central Pageland, 7:00 (Rock Hill, S.C.)

Aug. 30

Hoke County at Sun Valley

Porter Ridge at Piedmont

Weddington at Forest Hills

Hickory Ridge at Cuthbertson

Parkwood at Union Academy

Anson at Monroe

Central Academy at Highland Tech

 

Sept. 6

Marvin Ridge at Ardrey Kell, 7:00

Sun Valley at A.L. Brown

Parkwood at Piedmont

Central Pageland at Forest Hills

Monroe at Cuthbertson

Providence at Porter Ridge

Union Academy at Central Academy

Sept. 13

Porter Ridge at South Meck, 7:00

Sun Valley at Rocky River

Forest Hills at Piedmont

Indian Land at Marvin Ridge

Ardrey Kell at Cuthbertson

Monroe at Weddington

Parkwood at Jordan Matthews

Central Academy at Metrolina

Sept. 20

Porter Ridge at Sun Valley

Rocky River at Marvin Ridge

Cuthbertson at Forest Hills

Weddington at Parkwood

Charlotte Christian at Monroe

Central Academy at South Stanly

Sept. 27

Monroe at Sun Valley

Piedmont at Central Academy

Davidson Day at Marvin Ridge

North Rowan at Forest Hills

Ashbrook at Cuthbertson

Cherryville at Parkwood

Oct. 4

West Stanly at Piedmont

Victory Christian at Marvin Ridge

Country Day at Weddington

Independence at Porter Ridge

Oct. 11

Porter Ridge at Garinger, 7:00

Piedmont at Sun Valley

Marvin Ridge at Cuthbertson

Forest Hills at Mount Pleasant

Weddington at Anson

West Stanly at Parkwood

Monroe at Central Academy

 

Oct. 18

Sun Valley at Marvin Ridge

Piedmont at Anson

Parkwood at Forest Hills

Cuthbertson at Weddington

Myers Park at Porter Ridge

Mount Pleasant at Monroe

Central Academy at West Stanly

Oct. 25

Porter Ridge at Butler, 7:00

Sun Valley at Weddington

Marvin Ridge at Piedmont

West Stanly at Forest Hills

Anson at Cuthbertson

Monroe at Parkwood

Mount Pleasant at Central Academy

 

Nov. 1

Porter Ridge at East Meck, 7:00

Cuthbertson at Sun Valley

Weddington at Piedmont

Marvin Ridge at Anson

Forest Hills at Central Academy

Parkwood at Mount Pleasant

Monroe at West Stanly

Nov. 8

Sun Valley at Anson

Piedmont at Cuthbertson

Weddington at Marvin Ridge

Forest Hills at Monroe

Rocky River at Porter Ridge

Central Academy at Parkwood