HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Xavian King ran for three scores, including the first two on Friday night, as St. Stephens High rolled 56-7 over visiting South Caldwell in a Northwestern 3A-4A football game.
King, who ran for nearly 160 yards, helped the Indians (4-6, 3-3) – still vying to get into the state playoffs – even their conference record with one regular season game to go.
ST. STEPHENS 56
SOUTH CALDWELL 7
St. Stephens, tied for fourth place with Freedom and West Caldwell, closes the regular season at home Friday at 7:30 p.m. against archrival Hickory.
The Indians got ahead of the Spartans (1-9, 1-5) early when King scored on two 3-yard runs and Zach Lee caught a two-point conversion pass from quarterback Justin Bullock for a 14-0 edge.
St. Stephens led 35-7 by halftime after Bullock threw a scoring pass to Chance Benfield, Benfield returned an interception for a TD and King tacked on an 18-yard scoring run.
Those three scores came after Austin Raynor had scored on a 1-yard run for South Caldwell a few seconds into the second quarter.
The second-half scoring for the Indians came on Bullock’s 59-yard hookup with Teavius Henry, a 3-yard run by Bullock and Blake Baker’s 2-yard TD run.
St. Stephens’ defense limited the Spartans to fewer than 70 yards rushing, and the Indians forced five turnovers (two fumbles, three interceptions).
Bullock threw for 155 yards for the Indians and Henry had four catches for 105 yards.
St. Stephens beat South Caldwell for just the second time in their last eight battles.
While the Indians need to beat Hickory for the third time in four seasons to strengthen their chances of landing a postseason bid, the Spartans now must win on Friday in Hudson against Alexander Central to guarantee they’ll get into the state 4A playoffs. If Freedom beats McDowell, the Spartans are in regardless of their outcome with Alexander Central.
McDowell surprised West Caldwell on Friday night in Marion, winning 21-14, to gain its first conference win. If South Caldwell loses to Alexander Central and McDowell beats Freedom, the Titans will advance to the state 4A playoffs.
If there is a South Caldwell-McDowell tie in the standings, the Spartans advance via their 46-27 win in Marion on Oct. 6.
The Spartans’ regular season finale under first-year head coach Marc Kirkpatrick is at home Friday night at 7:30 p.m. against Alexander Central.
Because statewide realignment impacted home-and-away scheduling, Alexander Central will play in Hudson for the second straight season.
The Cougars’ head coach is Butch Carter, now in his second season in that job. He spent the previous 15 seasons as South Caldwell’s head coach.