By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
Conference: Northwestern 3A-4A.
Head coach: Andy Morgan (5-7, 1 year).
McDOWELL SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m.)
August
18—at R-S Central
25—Avery County
September
1—at Patton
8—Mitchell County
22—HICKORY
29—at ST. STEPHENS
October
6—S. CALDWELL
13—at ALEXANDER CENTRAL
20—at WATAUGA
27—W. CALDWELL
November
3—FREEDOM
Last season’s records: 5-7 overall; 2-4 Mountain Athletic 3A-4A, fifth place.
Last season’s results: R-S Central W, 21-0; at Avery County, W 22-17; Waynesville Tuscola, L 19-44; at Mitchell County, L 0-32; at Black Mountain Owen, W 13-3; ASHEVILLE ROBERSON, L 14-49; at N. BUNCOMBE, W 37-3; ASHEVILLE ERWIN, L 15-42; at ASHEVILLE, L 20-30; A.C. REYNOLDS, L 0-57; at ENKA, W 28-0; at Butler, L 0-63.
SCHOOL FOOTBALL HISTORY
Last season in state playoffs: 2016, 4AA.
Last state playoff victory: 1993, d. Mount Tabor 16-7, first round.
All-time state playoff bids: 17.
Conference titles since 1980, last: 4 (1 outright, 3 shares); 1992 Northwestern 4A.
BY THE NUMBERS
OVERALL
Returning starters: not available.
Returning lettermen: not available.
OFFENSE
Returning starters: not available.
Leading returning rusher: Andrew Randolph (22-76, no TDs).
Leading returning passer: Ben Ballew (129-226-20, 1,246, 9 TDs).
Leading returning receiver: Dakota Effler (22-20-8, 1 TD).
Other players to watch: J.C. Olivo (Jr., RB); Adam Randolph (Jr., QB); Dylon Moore (Sr., OL); Eric Miller (Sr., OL); Ricky Amador (Sr., OL).
DEFENSE
Returning starters: not available.
Players to watch: Andrew Davis (Jr., LB); Trey Beverly (Sr., LB); Ben Ballew (Sr., LB: Adam Randolph (Jr., DB); Andruw Randolph (Jr., LB).
OUTLOOK
The Titans make their way back toward the Hickory and Morganton area, where they used to play, and they’re coming in with hopes of contending for a league title. They haven’t won one since 1992 and haven’t won a postseason game since 1993.
McDowell has a returning QB who threw for nearly 1,300 yards last season, when he shared time with another QB (who is back) whose skills are more in tune with a running game.
Like most every team in the new Northwestern 3A-4A, getting better defensively will be important for the Titans. They gave up 40 or more points in five losses last season, including 63 in a shutout loss to Butler in the first round of the state playoffs.
Morgan is hopeful his younger skill position players develop over the course of the season.
The league teams that get to visit Marion this year – Hickory, South Caldwell and Freedom – are in for a treat. The school has done a lot of work on its stadium and has a new artificial playing surface.