BILL KISER

2A WEST REGIONAL No. 11 Maiden Blue Devils at No. 6 Lincolnton Wolves

nLocation: Lincolnton High School Stadium, Lincolnton.

n2009 Records: Maiden 6-5 overall, 4-3 Catawba Valley 2A; Lincolnton 8-3 overall, 4-1 Southern Piedmont 1A-2A.

nWinner plays: No. 3 Winston-Salem Carver (7-4) or No. 14 West Davidson (4-7).

nNotes: The Blue Devils, who won a state 2A championship in 1978, are in the state playoffs for the eighth consecutive year. They have also advanced to the West regional final twice, in 2002 and 2004. ... The Wolves are making their ninth straight appearance in the state playoffs, which includes a 2A championship in 2007. They also won a state 2A title in 1993. ... Maiden lost to Lincolnton 21-13 on Sept. 4 in nonconference game.

2AA WEST REGIONAL No. 15 South Iredell Vikings at No. 2 Bandys Trojans

nLocation: Garry Butler Memorial Stadium, Catawba.

n2009 Records: South Iredell 4-7 overall, 3-4 Catawba Valley 2A; Bandys 10-1 overall, 7-0 Catawba Valley 2A.

nWinner plays: No. 7 Newton-Conover (10-1) or No. 10 Piedmont (7-4).

nNotes: The Vikings are in the state playoffs for the fifth straight year, but enter having lost last three games. They have also not made it past the first round since 2006... The Trojans are making their eighth consecutive playoff appearance, and are riding a seven-game winning streak. ... South lost to Bandys 30-0 in CV2A game in Barium Springs on Oct. 23.

No. 10 Piedmont Panthers at No. 7 Newton-Conover Red Devils

nLocation: Gurley Stadium, Newton.

n2009 Records: Piedmont 7-4 overall, 6-2 Rocky River 1A-2A; Newton-Conover 10-1 overall, 6-1 Catawba Valley 2A.

nWinner plays: No. 2 Bandys (10-1) or No. 15 South Iredell (4-7).

nNotes: The Panthers put together their first winning season since 2004, which was also their last appearance in the state playoffs. ... The Red Devils, the defending state 2A champion, are in the playoffs for the fifth straight year. They have also made it past the first round every year.

No. 9 East Burke Cavaliers at No. 8 Salisbury Hornets

nLocation: Ludwig Stadium, Salisbury.

n2009 Records: East Burke 8-3 overall, 5-2 Catawba Valley 2A; Salisbury 7-4 overall, 4-1 Central Carolina 2A.

nWinner plays: No. 1 Shelby (10-1) or No. 16 Bunker Hill (4-7).

nNotes: The Cavaliers are in their first season at the 2A level after years playing at 4A, and make the playoffs for the third straight year and seventh time in last eight seasons. ... The Hornets are making their eighth consecutive appearance in the state playoffs.

No. 16 Bunker Hill Bears at No. 1 Shelby Golden Lions

nLocation: Shelby High School Stadium, Shelby.

n2009 Records: Bunker Hill 4-7 overall, 2-5 Catawba Valley 2A; Shelby 10-1 overall, 6-0 South Mountain 2A-3A.

nWinner plays: No. 9 East Burke (8-3) or No. 8 Salisbury (7-4).

nNotes: The Bears are back in the state playoffs for just the second time this decade, and are making their first appearance since 2004. ... The Lions have advanced to the state playoffs every year since 1997, and have won six NCHSAA state championships, including back-to-back 2AA titles in 2005-2006.

3A WEST REGIONAL No. 11 Hickory Red Tornadoes at No. 4 Tuscola Mountaineers

nLocation: C.E. Weatherby Stadium, Waynesville.

n2009 Records: Hickory 6-5 overall, 3-3 Northwestern 3A-4A; Tuscola 9-1-1 overall, 7-0 Appalachian Athletic 2A-3A.

nWinner plays: No. 5 Burns (5-6) or No. 12 West Henderson (6-5).

nNotes: The Red Tornadoes have made it to the state playoffs 14 of the last 15 years and nine straight, including a state 3A championship in 1996. ... The Mountaineers are making their sixth state playoff appearance over the last seven years, but their last state title came more than 25 years ago (1972).

No. 15 Freedom Patriots at No. 2 West Rowan Falcons

nLocation: Falcon Stadium, Mount Ulla.

n2009 Records: Freedom 5-6 overall, 3-3 South Mountain 2A-3A; West Rowan 11-0 overall, 6-0 North Piedmont 3A.

nWinner plays: No. 7 South Rowan (7-4) or No. 10 R-S Central (8-3).

nNotes: The Patriots are back in the state playoffs for the first time since 2006, but have not made it past the first round since 2002. ... The Falcons are the defending state 3A champions, and take a 25-game winning streak into this year's playoffs. West has also won five straight first-round playoff games.

4A WEST REGIONAL No. 12 Porter Ridge Pirates at No. 5 Alexander Central Cougars

nLocation: Cougar Stadium, Taylorsville.

n2009 Records: Porter Ridge 7-4 overall, 3-2 Southern Carolina 3A-4A; Alexander Central 10-1 overall, 5-1 Northwestern 3A-4A.

nWinner plays: No. 8 Mount Tabor (8-3) or No. 9 Western Guilford (5-6).

nNotes: The Pirates put together the first winning season in the program's five-year history, and are making their first appearance in the state playoffs. ... The Cougars are in the state playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven years, but have only made it past the first round twice in that span.

No. 14 Watauga Pioneers at No. 3 Ragsdale Tigers

nLocation: Kenneth T. Miller Stadium, Jamestown.

n2009 Records: Watauga 6-5 overall, 3-3 Northwestern 3A-4A; Ragsdale 11-0 overall, 6-0 Piedmont Triad 4A.

nWinner plays: No. 6 Sun Valley (8-3) or No. 11 North Davidson (7-4).

nNotes: The Pioneers, who won the state 3A title in 1978, are in the state playoffs for the fourth consecutive year, which includes back-to-back West regional finals in 2006-2007. ... The Tigers, who won state 3A titles in 1973-74, are making their ninth straight playoff appearance.

-- Compiled by Bill Kiser, Lenoir News-Topic