Are milestone victories coming tonight for
head coaches at Bandys, Alexander Central?
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
MAIDEN (3-0) at ST. STEPHENS (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
After starting 3-0 for the second straight season and for the fourth time in six years, Maiden treks up to Springs Road with a bit of a swagger and some building confidence.
Maiden at St. Stephens is the WNNC 101.3 FM feature game this week. Go to mytotalradio.com to listen
The Blue Devils’ third win was a steamroller, again via an explosive offense, as they ran their win streak over Bunker Hill to 29 consecutive games with a 49-0 home victory last Friday night.
Maiden is going for a 4-0 start for the second straight season under Will Byrne, 22-5 as the Blue Devils’ head coach.
Quarterback Bain Sipe and running back Malik Kennedy – new to the Maiden backfield – have emerged as the top threats on offense for the Blue Devils, who have now won 15 straight regular season games.
St. Stephens, 1-1 after a 44-6 home victory over Bunker Hill on Aug. 24, was idle last Friday and will be shooting for its first on-field win over Maiden since 2009 (the Indians picked up an after-the-fact forfeit win in the series in 2011 when Maiden inadvertently used an ineligible player).
The Indians have already shown they can run the ball, as they did against Bunker Hill, and that they can throw it (more than 200 yards in a season-opening loss at Bandys).
Sophomore QB Connor Williams was impressive throwing the ball at Bandys but the Indians were able to run the ball so effectively against Bunker Hill they didn’t need to throw much.
St. Stephens scored two defensive touchdowns in the win against Bunker Hill, both by Chance Benfield. He has three career defensive scores, the most by any St. Stephens player over the last 35 seasons.
BANDYS (2-0) at BUNKER HILL (0-3), 7:30 p.m.
The Trojans go for a 3-0 start – and for head coach Tom Eanes’ 150th career victory — by trying to win their second straight in a long series with the Bears.
Bandys can pick up career win No. 150 for new head coach Tom Eanes with a victory at Bunker Hill.
EANES
Bandys won 33-7 last season at Bandys while the Bears won 26-6 at The Hill in 2016.
The Trojans have had two weeks to prepare for their third game under Eanes, whose multiple offense has already hit a high gear.
Eanes is in his 30th season as a head coach, carrying a 149-187-1 record at 10 schools.
Bandys running back Ethan Howard cleared 2,500 career rushing yards in an Aug. 24 win at Fred T. Foard, and Eanes can confidently play two quarterbacks, Lake Hojnacki and Jacob Ellis.
Bunker Hill has been outscored 149-6 in three games under new head coach Patrick Clark and has appeared outmatched in a home loss to Newton-Conover and road losses to St. Stephens and Maiden.
Bandys has dominated the series since the mid-1990s, winning 19 of 23, and now leads 33-26-1.
EAST BURKE (1-2) at
NEWTON-CONOVER (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
The Red Devils will look to rebound from a 35-6 home loss against Hickory as they play their third game under new head coach Steven Pack.
Newton-Conover has won five of its last six matchups with the Cavs.
Newton-Conover faced an experienced secondary in the loss to HHS, and Red Tornadoes quarterback Bryce Stober threw (unofficially) for 253 yards.
The Red Devils should get a boost from the anticipated return of top playmaker Kyjuan McClain, who sat out last Friday’s game with an injury.
East Burke will play its second game in five days after falling 55-13 at home on Monday night to Freedom in a Fat Friday game delayed by rain and lightning last Friday night.
The Cavs have scored 55 points but 42 of those came in an opening week victory over winless West Caldwell.
Newton-Conover has won two straight over the Cavs – 44-6 in Icard last season – and five of the last six times the teams have met.
East Burke hasn’t won in Gurley Stadium since 2007 (Cavs 35, Red Devils 7).
FRED T. FOARD (0-3) at
WEST LINCOLN (2-0), 7:30 p.m.
West Lincoln goes for a 3-0 start and Foard tries to avoid a 0-4 start when the Rebels and Tigers battle in Lincoln County in a non-conference game.
Tom Sain, in his ninth season as West Lincoln’s head coach, guides the Rebels for the 98th time tonight.
The Rebels have continued to ride their already established 1-2 rushing punch – Brendon Ikard and Nakathan Phansook – and have outscored opponents 101-7.
Foard’s offense continues to struggle – so far quarterback Jack Colosimo appears to be the only consistent go-to player – and the Tigers could be headed for their first 0-4 start since their winless season in 2013.
Foard is in its 61st season of varsity football and has been 0-4 in 11 different seasons but only twice since 2000.
West Lincoln beat Cherryville 48-7 on the road last Friday while North Lincoln visited Foard and downed the Tigers 22-9.
The Tigers won 42-28 last season at home over the Rebels and West Lincoln won two seasons ago at Foard, 38-12.
Foard had a five-game win streak over West Lincoln at one point, but the Rebels won back-to-back and have now won three of the last five in the series.
HUNTER HUSS (3-0) at HICKORY (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
The unbeaten Huskies visit Barger Stadium for a non-league game between old rivals who played many years together in the old Western 4A.
The Hunter Huss-Hickory series goes all the way back to 1968 and they were league foes in the old Western 4A many years ago.
Huss’ wins are over Patton (49-0), at Cox Mill (28-20) and last Friday over Clover, S.C. (21-14, OT).
Huskies quarterback Zo Wallace has thrown for almost 600 yards and for eight TDs, and the lineup includes former Newton-Conover star Jaheim Mullen. Mullen has three kickoff returns for scores, the longest 98 yards.
Hickory, after losing 30-15 at Statesville to open the season and then having a week off before playing at Newton-Conover, looked rejuvenated in Gurley Stadium.
Quarterback Bryce Stober, after battling injuries a majority of his career, looked calm and confident as he guided the HHS offense.
Hickory’s defense forced five turnovers against Newton-Conover.
The Red Tornadoes and Huskies first played in 1968.
Hickory won 28-27 in Gastonia last season and Huss won 47-28 in Hickory in 2016.
The two teams have played in the state playoffs twice since 1986 with Hickory winning 6-0 that year in Hickory and 63-0 in 2007.
A close game should perhaps be expected tonight, more in line margin-wise with their battles in 1981 and 1984 (Hickory 7-6 both times).
ALEXANDER CENTRAL (3-0)
at NORTH LINCOLN (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
Probably a mixed emotion game for North Lincoln head coach Nick Bazzle, who after leaving Alexander Central and getting out of coaching for two years, returns this year to guide the Knights.
Butch Carter has won 20 games as head coach at Alexander Central and is a win away from 125 in his career.
Bazzle, going to 8-0 all-time against Foard by beating the Tigers 22-9 on the road last Friday night, got his 130th career victory.
Alexander Central head coach Butch Carter, 20-7 with the Cougars, can pick up his 125th career victory with a win.
Bazzle’s son, Matt Wilson, plays a key role in offensive play-calling for Alexander Central and, at least on paper, the son has way more weapons to call upon that Bazzle does.
RB Clayton Cribb sparks the North Lincoln offense while the Cougars have the luxury of not having to rely on one, two or even three different players to move the ball consistently.
Bazzle never faced Alexander Central in the 15 seasons he was head coach at Newton-Conover; the Red Devils and Cougars haven’t played since 1980.
HIBRITEN (3-0) at
SOUTH CALDWELL (0-2), 7:30 p.m.
The Panthers need a win to extend their win streak to 20 overall, and they have won two straight over the Spartans.
Hibriten goes to Hudson tonight to play South Caldwell and puts a 19-game win streak on the line.
Hibriten won 48-0 at home last season and 61-0 in Hudson the year before.
RB McKinley Witherspoon again sparks an explosive Panthers offense.
The Panthers have won six of the last 10 against the Spartans to go to 19-21-1 in a series that has, until late, been traditionally close.
Since a 14-all tie in 1981, the game has been decided by seven or fewer points 17 times.
Prior to winning in Hudson two years ago, Hibriten had fallen twice there and had not won at Spartans Stadium since 2009 when Leo Guevara ran seven times for a season-best 179 yards and three TDs.
Freedom, playing its second game in five days, is 10-1 all-time against Burke County rival Patton.
PATTON (2-1)
at FREEDOM (2-1), 7:30 p.m.
It’s game No. 12 in the series and the Patriots have won 10 of them, including 31-14 last season at home when returning Freedom QB Jayden Birchfield completed 19 of 27 passes for 286 yards and four scores.
Freedom play Monday night at East Burke, winning 55-13 after Fat Friday was rained out last Friday night.
Patton is 1-5 at Freedom, winning there 35-28 two years ago, and the Panthers’ other results at Freedom are losses by 26, 21, 21, 63 and 37 points in a state playoff game.
The Panthers are 11-18 all-time against their fellow Burke County rivals—Freedom, Draughn and East Burke.
OTHER AREA GAMES
West Caldwell (0-3) at Ashe County (1-2), 7:30 p.m.: The Warriors, outscored 148-6, so far hope to avoid a 4-0 start. Ashe County has been blown out in two straight games, falling 43-7 against Watauga and 56-14 last Friday at Hibriten.
North Gaston (2-1) at East Lincoln (0-2), 7:30 p.m.: The Mustangs chase their first win in the second season of David Lubowicz as head coach. They’re under .500 under Lubowicz (6-8) after winning 50 of 59 games over a four-year span.
Cherryville (2-1) at Draughn (0-3), 7:30 p.m.: The Wildcats are still looking for their first win under new head coach Chris Powell while the Ironmen’s 2-0 start was stopped last week by West Lincoln (48-7).
Highland Tech (1-0) at Lake Norman Charter (2-1), 7:30 p.m.: The Knights go for their third straight win since a four-point opening loss to Southlake Christian, facing the Rams. Highland Tech won its opener 51-0 over South Davidson.
McDowell (2-1) at Mitchell County (2-1), 7:30 p.m.: QB Noah Pitman has 624 yards of total offense for Mitchell County, which beat Cannon and Trinity Academy after falling to Asheville Erwin to open the season.
Statesville (2-1) at West Iredell (2-1), 7:30 p.m.: Sophomores Nebayne Moore (395 passing yards, four TDs) and Charion Imes (28-202 yards) lead the Greyhounds against the Warriors.
Watauga (3-0) at Wilkes Central (1-2), 7:30 p.m.: The Pioneers have played well early, despite losing their starting QB to a first-night injury and go for career win No. 97 for head coach Ryan Habich.