COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Mars Hill will offer Bears a test in conference opener

HobbsDailyReport.com MARS HILL — Lenoir-Rhyne University faces Mars Hill for the 44th time on Saturday at 1 p.m. in a South Atlantic Conference (SAC) football opener at Meares Stadium. Mars Hill (1-1) leads the overall series 23-19-1 and has won the last two meetings. The Lions have been an up-and-down team in their first two games with a 40-14 win …

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Unbeaten West Wilkes slips by Bears, who fall to 0-5

HobbsDailyReport.com MILLERS CREEK – West Wilkes High held off visiting Bunker Hill on Friday night to earn its first 4-0 football start since 1993. The Blackhawks topped the Bears 47-43 behind quarterback Alex Ortiz, who had 133 passing yards and ran 19 times for 136 yards. West Wilkes led 27-21 at the half after each team scored three times in …

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: R-S Central keeps South Caldwell winless

HobbsDailyReport.com RUTHERFORDTON – R-S Central High recovered two key fumbles in the closing three minutes on Friday night and got a long scoring run to beat visiting South Caldwell 23-14 and keep the Spartans winless. The Hilltoppers (2-3) won via an 80-yard TD run by quarterback Jayden Waddell in the school’s first football battle since 2012. Waddell, a junior, came …

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Red-hot Phillips sparks Hickory’s win at Bandys

By CHRIS HOBBS HobbsDailyReport.com CATAWBA — Bandys High head football coach Trent Lowman — himself a former quarterback of note — probably best summed up what happened to his Trojans on Friday night. Visiting Hickory, with Derrien Phillips enjoying a feast of a night at Butler Stadium, quickly ate up any hope Bandys had of winning a non-conference football game. …