HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Previews for Friday’s Week 6 games

By CHRIS HOBBS

HobbsDailyReport.com

A brief look at Friday’s varsity football games involving teams from the South Fork 2A, Northwestern Foothills 2A and Northwestern 3A-4A:

SOUTH FORK 2A

BANDYS (3-1)

at MAIDEN (3-1), 7:30 p.m.

There is no bigger game for these two communities, a battle in which a player can make one big play and be remembered at his school for a lifetime.

This is the 67^th meeting in a series Maiden leads – largely by its 25-0-3 start against the Trojans – and it could come down specifically to how well Bandys’ defense handles Maiden QB Ethan Rhodes and WR Dylan Abernethy.

Bandys has won the last two visits to Maiden and has won 14 times in the series and six times at Maiden.

The Trojans won 37-28 at Bandys last season.

LAKE NORMAN CHARTER (1-3) at EAST LINCOLN (4-0), 7:30 p.m.

The Mustangs go for a 5-0 start with a visit from the Knights, who could offer East Lincoln a challenge with a passing game led by QB Jeff Womack.

East Lincoln, coming off a 6-7 season, has played well early and also has a QB (Justin Barnett) who is leading the way.

East Lincoln did not have much trouble handling the Knights a year ago, winning 56-7 at home.

LINCOLNTON (2-2) at NEWTON-CONOVER (2-2), 7:30 p.m.

The Red Devils go for their third straight win in a series that is tied 9-all since 1983.

As expected, RB Allen Wilfong and QB Justice Craig have had good starts for Newton-Conover, which had lost seven straight games against the Wolves before winning two years ago.

The Red Devils won 34-7 last season at Lincolnton.

The Wolves are 5-1 at Gurley Stadium, last winning their 49-6 in 2016.

NORTH LINCOLN (3-1) at WEST LINCOLN (4-0), 7:30 p.m.

This might be the best game in the South Fork 2A tonight, certainly one that is going to help decide who the frontrunners are in the chase for a league title.

North Lincoln isn’t a great deal different from last season – RB Jake Soorus is particularly an offensive threat – and West Lincoln’s defense is sterling and the Rebels also have a number of offensive threats (RBs Cannon Bridges and Xander Pendergrass).

Not sure the game will be as low scoring as last year — when the Knights won 7-6 at North Lincoln on Soorus’ 99-yard TD run – but this is going to be a battle.

NORTHWESTERN FOOTHILLS 2A

DRAUGHN (3-2, 1-0) at WEST IREDELL (2-2), 7:30 p.m.

The Wildcats take a trip to Old Mountain Road, going to West Iredell sitting atop the conference standings via an earlier victory over Fred T. Foard.

West Iredell has some of the league’s best returning athletes — QB Eli Kitchens and RB Emmanuel Long come to mind – but there may be a simple bottom line to this game – can West Iredell slow Draughn’s passing game?

Draughn QB Braxton Cox has thrown for 14 scores in the last three game, wins over Fred T. Foard, Cherryville and Avery County. And the Wildcats scored 164 points in those games.

West Iredell won 45-20 last season at Draughn.

EAST BURKE (1-3) at WEST CALDWELL (0-4), 7:30 p.m.

The Cavs can get their third straight win in games played at West Caldwell’s tonight in a series East Burke leads 13-11 since 1983.

East Burke got QB Seth Pruitt back in the lineup last week (he had been out with an injury) and it still has one of the league’s top rushers in RB Josh Moore.

West Caldwell is still chasing its first win in the second tenure of Mike Biggerstaff as head coach.

This could be the case tonight: In the 24 games they’ve played since 1983, the winning margin was 10 or fewer points nine times.

East Burke and West Caldwell opened last season at West Caldwell with the Cavs winning 42-0. West Caldwell was in the Northwestern 3A-4A last season.

FRED T. FOARD (0-5) at PATTON (1-3), 7:30 p.m.

The Tigers take their sixth shot at getting Ryan Gettys his first win in his second tenure as Foard head coach.

Patton has won the last two games against Foard that were played at Patton, and the Panthers lead the series 4-3.

RB Corey Siemer leads Foard, and QB Weston Fleming has been Draughn’s scoring leader.

Foard won 21-12 last season at home when Siemer ran for 198 yards and scored twice.

HIBRITEN (3-1) at BUNKER HILL (1-3), 7:30 p.m.

Big opportunity for the Bears as they continue getting better under head coach Patrick Clark.

If Bunker Hill can beat Hibriten it will have back-to-back wins over  teams that met in the third round of the playoffs a year ago, Bandys and Hibriten.

QB Daren Perry leads a Panthers offense that is still explosive while Bears QB Carson Elder has been under-the-radar good.

This is Bunker Hill’s first game since going to Bandys and winning 12-9, so the Bears’ confidence level should be high.

Can’t overstate how big an opportunity this game is for the Bears… back-to-back wins over established football powers would draw a lot of attention.

Hibriten won 55-0 last year in Lenoir.

NORTHWESTERN 3A-4A

SOUTH CALDWELL (3-2) at WATAUGA (4-1), 7:30 p.m.

The Spartans and Pioneers began playing an intense rivalry game in the late 1970s, and tonight’s game will be another step in determining how good South Caldwell is and can be.

South Caldwell has won 22 of the 39 rivalry games since 1980 but has not won in Boone since 2014.

Both teams have offensive weapons of note – RB Spencer Piercy and QB Avery Raynor for the Spartans while the Pioneers counter with QB Anderson Castle and RB Jaiden Bond.

Watauga won 46-12 in Hudson last season with two defensive scores in the mix and without Castle, who was out with an injury.

HICKORY (0-5) at McDOWELL (1-3), 7:30 p.m.

The Red Tornadoes pursue career win No. 274 for head coach Russell Stone, making a mountain trip to see if they can get their first win in Marion since 1992.

RB Cody Young sparks the Hickory offense, which has had to adjust to having four QBs play because of injuries, and RB Quantarian Moore leads the Titans.

Hickory beat McDowell 31-0 last season at Barger Stadium when Young ran for 108 yards and three scores.

ST. STEPHENS (2-2) at FREEDOM (3-2), 7:30 p.m.

Freedom has won all six games it has played against the Indians, including all three in Morganton (outscored the Indians 122-6).

St. Stephens has a passing duo – QB Connor Williams and WR Zach Lee – that, when hot, can keep the Indians in any game.

Freedom has multiple weapons, all triggered by QB Jayden Birchfield. He probably is the best offensive skill position player this year in the Greater Hickory area.

For incentive, the Patriots can give Luke Little – a former football star at West Stanly – his 100^th career victory (99-61, 13^th year). The Patriots are 12-5 under Little, now in his second season at Freedom.

Freedom won 49-0 last year at St. Stephens when Birchfield threw for 320 yards to clear 1,000 for the season. The Patriots had 10 players scoring points that night.