By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m.)
Aug. 19 – at Fred T. Foard, W 50-7
Aug. 26 – at Watauga, L 19-24
Sept. 2—St. Stephens
Sept. 16 – E. BURKE
Sept. 23 – W. LINCOLN (HC)
Sept. 30 – at W. CALDWELL
Oct. 7 – at BANDYS
Oct. 14 – BUNKER HILL
Oct. 21 – LINCOLNTON
Oct. 28 – at NEWTON-CONOVER
MAIDEN BLUE DEVILS
BYRNE
Conference: Catawba Valley 2A Athletic
Head coach: Will Byrne (55-15-0, 6 years)
Assistant coaches: Kewun McDaniel, JV head coach; Jared Spring, Brent Jenkins, Michael Danner; Hugh McCall
Last season’s records: 13-1 overall; 7-0 Catawba Valley 2A Athletic, champion
SCHOOL FOOTBALL HISTORY
Last season in state playoffs: 2021, 2A
Last state playoff victory: 2021, d. Salisbury 32-20, third round
All-time state playoff bids (since 1972): 41
Conference titles (or shares of) since 1980, last: 26, 2021 Catawba Valley 2A Athletic
BY THE NUMBERS
OVERALL
Returning starters: 16
Returning lettermen: 25
Maiden wide receiver Chris Culliver, who has announced he will play football at North Carolina, gives the Blue Devils one of the nation’s top redeiving threats. Unofficially, he had 60 catches for 1,167 yards and 21 scoring receptions as a junior./247 PHOTOS
OFFENSE
Set: Multiple spread
Returning starters: 8
Leading returning rushers: Ben Gibbs, 5-9, 175, Sr. (238-1,814, 15 TDs)
Leading returning passer: Wesley Thompson, 6-4, 195, Sr. (169-330-15, 1,917, 16 at Ashe County)
Leading returning receivers: Chris Culliver, 6-2, 185 (60-1,167, 21 TDs); Alec Hall, 6-2, 200 (35-543, 9 TDs, currently out with injury); Gibbs (11-207, 2 TDs)
Other key returnees: Jackson Hensley, 6-4, 220, Sr., OL; D.J. Spring, 6-0, 255, Sr., OL; Jacob Sigmon, 5-9 185, Sr., WR; Quinn Rembert, 6-1, 230, Sr., OL; Carson Foard, 5-7, 145, Sr., K; Caron McDaniel, 5-9, 165, Sr., WR; Bryson Foard, 5-8, 155, Sr., WR; Gerald Danner, 5-11, 70, OL, Soph.
Top newcomers: Thompson, 6-4, 195, Sr. QB (played last year at Ashe County); Josh Stover, 6-0, 165, Soph., WR; Will Stover, 5-11, 160, Jr., WR
DEFENSE
Set: 4-3
Returning starters: 8
Players to watch: Jackson Hensley, 6-4, 220, Sr., DE; D.J. Spring, 6-0, 255, DL, Sr.; Jacob Sigmon, 5-9, 185, Sr., OLB; Quinn Rembert, 6-1, 230, Sr., DL-LB; Caden Brantley, 5-11, 165, Sr., DB; Bryson Foard, 5-8 155, Sr., DB; Tron Navarro, 5-11, 250, Sr., DL; Gerald Danner, 5-11, 270, Soph., DL
