HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Many of the pieces seemed to come together on Friday night for Hickory High’s football team under new head coach Russell Stone, but not quite enough to win.
Visiting Statesville rallied with 13 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime, then nipped the Red Tornadoes 27-26 via a game-deciding PAT by Zach Nicholson.
Nicholson had missed a field goal and a PAT previously and had two field goals blocked. But he converted to gain the point the Greyhounds needed to spoil Stone’s debut at HHS.
Hickory came out of the first quarter leading 14-7, riding scores of 15 yards by Quintavious Saddler and 3 yards by quarterback Derrien Phillips to gain that edge.
The Red Tornadoes opened their lead to 13 points after Jaelin Byrd scored on a 1-yard run with five minutes, 23 seconds left in the third quarter.
Statesville’s rally began with a TD with 7 ½ minutes to play, when Bryant Young threw 14 yards to Brandon Joyner for a score. The PAT was blocked, leaving HHS up 20-13.
About five minutes later, the game was tied. The Greyhounds drove and netted a 7-yard TD run by Caylon Imes and Nicholson’s PAT to make it 20-all.
In overtime, Phillips scored from the 10 but Harrison Boston’s PAT was blocked.
Down by six points, the Greyhounds won when Dorreco Davis caught a 10-yard pass from Young and Nicholson kicked the game-deciding PAT.
Hickory now has a bye, as does its next opponent, and two weeks to get ready for a visit from Newton-Conover.
The Greyhounds have now played Hickory to start their schedule in 13 consecutive seasons, winning the last four in a row and eight of 10.