HobbsDailyReport.com
VALDESE – Running back C.J. Hayden made sure Freedom High stayed unbeaten all-time against rival Draughn on Friday night, rushing for three touchdowns in a 41-6 road victory.
FREEDOM 41
DRAUGHN 6
Hayden’s rushing and the first career varsity TD pass by sophomore Jayden Birchfield helped the Patriots– beaten last week 14-7 by state power Shelby — even their record at 1-1.
The victory, the first for Jim Bob Bryant as Freedom’s head coach, came in the ninth all-time varsity football meeting of the Patriots and Wildcats (0-2).
Freedom moved to 5-0 in the series in road games, and the Patriots have outscored the Wildcats 102-6 in their last two games in Valdese.
Birchfield also threw another TD pass for Freedom, which is coming off a 6-6 record last year after a string of six straight seasons with at least 10 wins.
The Patriots, who won more games than any other in the Greater Hickory area in the five previous seasons, next play the annual Fat Friday game against Burke County rival East Burke. That game is Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Morganton.
After facing East Burke, the Patriots will play at Patton on Sept. 8, then have a bye week before opening Northwestern 3A-4A play on Sept. 22 at home against St. Stephens.
Draughn travels to Brevard on Friday night for a 7:30 p.m. game and has games at Cherryville and at home against Avery County before its Northwestern Foothills 2A opener at West Iredell on Sept. 22.