HobbsDailyReport.com
LENOIR – The biggest bruises in the annual Black and Blue Friday football game continue to be administered by Hibriten High.
HIBRITEN 55
WEST CALDWELL 0
The Panthers won their 15th straight in a historic series between Caldwell County rivals on Friday night at West Caldwell, pounding the Warriors 55-0.
The margin of victory was the second-highest in the 38 games played in the series since 1980, topped only by Hibriten’s 70-6 romp in 2009 at West Caldwell.
Rushing for 370 yards and getting almost 285 of that from Gee Witherspoon and Marqwone Jones, the Panthers (2-0) rolled to their eight consecutive road victory in the series.
Hibriten led 21-0 at the half after a scoreless first quarter, scored 20 points in the third quarter and had 14 points in the fourth quarter, dropping West Caldwell to 1-1.
Witherspoon scored on runs of 54, 52 and 13 yards to lead the Panthers, who opened their season a week ago by beating Concord Robinson 33-6 in Lenoir.
Hibriten also got two defensive scores – an interception return and a fumble return that closed the scoring in a game that reached the running clock mercy rule of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA).
West Caldwell, after winning its opener 35-0 over West Caldwell, gained more than 200 yards on offense but didn’t score.
Hibriten’s season continues on Friday at 7:30 p.m. with a road game against Avery County. After that, the Panthers are at home in back-to-back weeks to face South Caldwell and Newton-Conover. Hibriten does not play a Northwestern Foothills 2A game until Sept. 22 at Bunker Hill.
West Caldwell, guided by assistant coach Neil Ramsey while new head coach Devore Holman recovers from complications from a knee surgery, has two home games before a bye week. The Warriors play West Iredell in Lenoir on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Ashe County on Sept. 8.
After a bye week (Sept. 15), the Warriors play their first Northwestern 3A-4A game, with Alexander Central visiting.
Both Hibriten and West Caldwell have changed classifications since last year. Hibriten moved from 3A to 2A in statewide realignment while West Caldwell went from 2A to 3A.