Editor’s note: All statistical totals referenced are unofficial and historical information is from research and files of HobbsDailyReport.com that dates back to the 1980 season (or before, if noted).
By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY (0-1) at
NEWTON-CONOVER (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
One of the longest running rivalries – they first played in 1923 – adds another chapter tonight when the Red Tornadoes visit the Red Devils for a non-conference battle at Gurley Stadium.
Newton-Conover goes for its fifth straight victory over Hickory in a series that began in 1923.
Both teams have had two weeks to prepare for Game No. 76 in the series (Hickory leads 47-26-2).
Hickory was idle after Statesville rallied in the second half to win a season-opening game 30-15 in Statesville while the Red Devils enjoyed an open date after rolling 56-0 at Bunker Hill to open their season.
Hickory at Newton-Conover is the WNNC 101.3 FM feature game this week. Go to mytotalradio.com to listen
The Red Tornadoes, in their second season under head coach Russell Stone, are trying to move beyond relying on one player as a key offensive weapon as graduated QB Derrien Phillips was that player for three years.
The Red Devils have a new starting QB, Justice Craig, under center under a bit different circumstances as Shamar Baker transferred. Craig went 10-for-10 for 178 yards against Bunker Hill as Newton-Conover overwhelmed the Bears with overall team speed.
This is the second game for Steven Pack as head coach at Newton-Conover and his Gurley Stadium debut, as least in the role of being the big boss. He previously was an assistant coach for departed Red Devils head coach Matt Beam and left North Lincoln after one season to replace Beam, who retired to start a business in Lincoln County.
Newton-Conover owns four straight wins over HHS and has won eight of 10 and 11 of the last 13 in a series where the game has produced at least a combined 70 points in six of the last 11 battles.
The rivals are playing for the 26th consecutive season… and in games dating back to 1982, the Red Tornadoes are 3-9 at Gurley Stadium.
HHS last won at Gurley 21-15 at Gurley in 2012 when Matt Williams, who later played QB at Fred T. Foard and now plays for Lenoir-Rhyne University, ran for 94 yards and two scores and Cameron Stinson ran a punt return 73 yards for a TD.
BUNKER HILL (0-2) at MAIDEN (2-0, 7:30 p.m.
How long has it been since the Bears beat the Blue Devils in varsity football? Well, the last time it happened was the year (1989) Nintendo released the GameBoy in Japan in April and in the U.S. in July (why do I envision anyone under 40 reading this and asking “What is GameBoy?”).
Bunker Hill has not beaten Maiden in varsity football since 1989, when the school’s current principal, Lee Miller, led a 24-8 victory at Maiden.
For the record, the Bears go to The Biggest Little Football Town In The World tonight seeking the first career win for their new head coach, Patrick Clark. He came from an assistant’s job at Maiden to guide Bunker Hill.
The Maiden win streak is 28 games, and the Blue Devils win streak at home over the Bears is 13.
The rivals have played 38 times since the 1982 season with Maiden going 33-5, and Bunker Hill’s wins coming in 1980, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1989.
And here’s a Bet Ya Didn’t Know with an interesting twist: When the Bears beat the host Blue Devils 24-8 in 1989, the game’s star was QB Lee Miller – yep, the current principal at his alma mater. He ran 36 and 27 yards for TDs that night and threw 27 yards to Junior McDaniel for another score.
Since then, Bunker Hill is 3-14 at Maiden and will have a hefty, hefty chore ahead of it tonight … based on the first two weeks of the season.
Maiden has beaten Fred T. Foard 21-6 and, last week, drilled East Burke 68-0 in Icard behind new starting QB Bain Sipe and defense.
Bunker Hill, after falling 56-0 at home to Newton-Conover, struggled and fell 44-6 at St. Stephens with the only Bears TD coming on an interception return.
NORTH LINCOLN (0-1) at
FRED T. FOARD (0-2), 7:30 p.m.
Nick Bazzle is back as a head coach — guiding the Knights after being at Newton-Conover and Alexander Central for 17 years combined – and he’s never been beaten by a Foard team.
Nick Bazzle, the new head football coach at North Lincoln, is 7-0 all-time against Fred T. Foard while at Newton-Conover and Alexander Central.
The Knights lost their opener against Thomas Jefferson Academy by seven points while the Tigers have struggled offensively in losses at Maiden (21-6) and last Friday at home against Bandys (49-14).
North Lincoln features a hard-nosed RB in Clayton Cribb, who will play college football at Army, and Foard, at least so far, has been searching for some continuity on offense.
Returning QB Jack Colosimo has two kickoff returns for TDs and he also has the only other Foard score, a fourth-quarter 14-yard TD run against Bandys.
This is the third meeting for North Lincoln and Foard with the Tigers winning all three. Last year, at North Lincoln, Foard won 40-26 behind two scores by returnee Corey Siemer and Aram Lomax’s only rushing TDs of 2017.
Bazzle chases career win No. 130 in his 18th season and 216th game as a head coach while Foard’s Derrick Minor is 43-35 in his career and 12-14 with the Tigers.
Bazzle was 6-0 against the Knights at Newton-Conover and won his only matchup with them while head coach at Alexander Central.
FREEDOM (1-1) at EAST BURKE (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
Fat Friday, if you can believe it, turns 45 tonight (Freedom leads 26-18).
From food drives to other fundraising efforts to capacity crowds through its long run, Fat Friday is a big part of athletic history in Burke County for many reasons.
The last time East Burke beat rival Freedom in Icard was in 2008 when Tyler Shatley, who latr played at Clemson and in the NFL, ran for two scores as a fullback.
As the story goes, former Morganton New Herald sports editor Durwood Pack, coined the phrase (not sure if that started with the first game in 1974), but – much like the Newton-Conover versus Maiden rivalry – you can make a big play on Fat Friday and be remembered virtually forever.
Luke Little will experience his first FF as head coach of the Patriots. He got his first Freedom win handily last Friday night, 57-0 over Patton, and has one of the top athletes in the region running his offense QB Jayden Benfield.
East Burke, after a 42-0 roll past West Caldwell to open the season, was manhandled at home last Friday night by Maiden, 68-0.
The Patriots have won eight straight over East Burke.
The last time the Cavs beat the Patriots in Icard was 21-11 in 2008, a night future NFLer Tyler Shatley played FB and ran for TDs of 2 and 4 yards and Dustin Wilson ran 80 yards for a TD.
NORTH IREDELL (2-0) at
ALEXANDER CENTRAL (2-0), 7:30 p.m.
Butch Carter can move within a win of 125 for his career if the Cougars can take care of business tonight in Taylorsville against North Iredell, which opened the season with a 25-game losing streak.
Alexander Central has won seven of its last nine games against North Iredell, the last two by a combined 101-8.
Alexander Central has won two straight in the series (by a combined 101-8), seven of the last nine and is 14-11 against the Red Raiders since 1983.
Carter, 19-7 with the Cougars, picked up the majority of his coaching wins at South Caldwell (123-86 overall, 19th year).
The Red Raiders snapped their long skid by beating Wilkes Central 20-14 and then Forbush 28-25 last Friday at North Iredell behind QB Joe Gaither’s 136 passing yards and two TDs and RB Donya’ Stevenson rushing 26 times for 176 yards.
Alexander Central has new faces producing within its offense in wins of 40-7 at Burns and a 50-7 romp last Friday night at home over Wilkes Central.
The game is a homecoming of sorts for North Iredell assistant coach Tom Harper, who was the Cougars’ head coach for five seasons (2007-2011, record of 34-26, league title in 2010, four playoff bids).
Patton and McDowell meet for just the second time — their first came last year at Patton when the Panthers won 42-7.
PATTON (1-1) at
McDOWELL (2-0), 7:30 p.m.
Patton faces the Titans for the second time and first time in Marion, looking to add to last year’s 42-7 victory at Patton that featured a season-high 276 rushing yards by graduated RB William Brawley.
Brawley had 44 for carries for 626 yards coming out of that game, Patton’s third last season, and was injured three games later and lost for the season (108-1,128). He did not return and the Panthers still won nine games.
First-year head coach Jonathan Browning collected career win No. 1 last Friday when Patton won 23-7 at R-S Central.
McDowell – 9-16 under third-year head coach Andy Morgan — beat Avery County 52-27 to start 2-0 with QB Adam Randolph throwing for 222 yards and completing 14 of 17 passes, three for scores. His twin, Andruw, had five receptions for 97 yards.
Hibriten has won 18 straight games and has home win streaks (11) and in the regular-season (14) as well.
ASHE COUNTY (1-1) at
HIBRITEN (2-0), 7:30 p.m.
The Panthers just keep winning under head coach Clay Lewis, 82-28 in his ninth season.
Tonight, they go for their 19th straight win overall, 15th straight in the regular season and 12th straight on their home field, primarily doing it with superior depth and team play.
Gunning for their seventh consecutive winning season, the Panthers are a defending state champion (16-0 last year).
Hibriten has eight straight wins over Ashe County and has won three straight in Lenoir by a combined 138-14 margin.
The Wildcats played Brevard for the first time a year ago, falling 27-0 on the road.
BREVARD (1-1) at
DRAUGHN (0-2), 7:30 p.m.
The Wildcats continue to chase the first win for new head coach Chris Powell after falling 53-0 to West Lincoln on Aug 14 and 57-0 at home last Friday night to Freedom.
Brevard picked up a 42-0 victory over Rosman when QB Mitchell Johnson completed nine of 15 passes for 148 yards and two TDs.
The first meeting of the schools was last season at Brevard, a 27-0 win by the home team.
EAST RUTHERFORD (2-0)
at SOUTH CALDWELL (0-1), 7:30 p.m.
KIRKPATRICK
The Spartans play their home opener and 14th game with their former starting QB, Marc Kirkpatrick, as head coach.
East Rutherford has home wins of 34-14 over South Stanly and 61-42 last Friday night over North Gaston when RB Demetirus Mauney ran 13 times for 157 yards. He has 28 carries for 287 yards in two games.
South Caldwell fell 42-7 on the road last Friday against Kings Mountain.
The Cavs and Spartans played last season at East Rutherford (Cavs 47-7).
There’s one certainty tonight unless the game was to end in a tie — a Warriors team will win.
WEST CALDWELL (0-2)
at WEST IREDELL (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
One thing is certain – the Warriors will win tonight’s non-league game, as both schools have that mascot.
West Caldwell was hit hard by graduation and has been outscored 100-0 by East Burke and Hibriten.
After beating the Hickory Hawks 47-6, West Iredell’s offense was shut down last Friday by South Iredell in a 54-7 loss.
This is the 37th game for former Hibriten assistant Monte Simmons as head coach at West Iredell (9-27, fourth year).
OTHER AREA GAMES
Avery County (0-2) at Watauga (2-0), 7:30 p.m.: Watauga goes for its 10th straight home win and its 16th straight in the regular season in Boone.
The Pioneers have received solid games from QB Jackson Greene, who moved into a starting role when Anderson Castle was injured in the opening quarter of the season.
Ashe County (50-7) and McDowell (52-27) gave Avery County its winless start.
A win tonight in the mountains would be No. 96 career-wise for Watauga head coach Ryan Habich. He’s 45-19 with the Pioneers.
Ashbrook (1-0) at East Lincoln (0-1), 7:30 p.m.: The Mustangs, pursuing their 14th straight non-losing season, can even second-year head coach David Lubowicz’s record at 7-7 with a home victory.
Ashbrook opened last Friday with a 35-21 victory over East Mecklenburg, scoring 21 points in the first half. RBs Tyresse Nicholas (30 carries for 148 yards) and Jakai Grier combined for 253 yards.
West Lincoln (1-0) at Cherryville (2-0), 7:30 p.m.: The Ironmen are off to an unbeaten start after beating Bessemer City 17-14 and Chase 26-15.
West Lincoln goes for a 2-0 start and the 43rd career win for head coach Tom Sain, now 42-53 in his ninth season and approaching 100 games as the Rebels boss.
Community School of Davidson (2-0) at Lake Norman Charter (1-1), 7:30 p.m.: The Knights will try to slow down CSD’s offense after it won games against North Moore (55-27) and Christ The King (52-0).
CSD scored all of its points in the first half last Friday night behind QB Austin Felke (8-14-0 for 200 yards, three TDs).
North Gaston (1-1) at Lincolnton (0-2), 7:30 p.m.: The Wolves need a victory to avoid a 0-3 start and get headed on the right track if they’d like to extend their consecutive seasons in the state playoffs to 19.
North Gaston fell 61-42 last Friday against East Rutherford, giving up 395 rushing yards.