Championships have been part of both Lincolnton and Shelby’s glorious pasts . For one of them, another could be in their immediate future.

The Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A foes meet Friday night at Von Ray Harris Field in Lincolnton, both vying for a spot in next week’s NCHSAA 3A state final. Lincolnton won their October matchup, needing overtime to earn a 35-34 victory.

What are a few things which may decide Friday’s contest? Here are five keys ahead of this much-anticipated rematch..

How banged up is Shelby coming into the matchup?

Shelby survived Eastern Randolph with a 43-41 victory, but such didn’t come without a heavy toll.

The Golden Lions had several players nicked up last week, most notable of those wideouts Immanuel Collins and Lorenzo Roseboro, who missed much of the second h

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