By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
SOUTH CALDWELL SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m.)
August
25—Kings Mountain
September
1—at E. Rutherford
8—at Hibriten
15—at R-S Central
22—at WATAUGA
29—W. CALDWELL
October
6—at McDOWELL
13 –FREEDOM
20—HICKORY
27—at ST. STEPHENS
November
3—ALEXANDER CENTRAL
Conference: Northwestern 3A-4A.
Head coach: Marc Kirkpartick (0-0, first year).
Last season’s records: 2-9 overall; 2-5 Northwestern 3A-4A, tie for fifth place.
Last season’s results: at Bandys, L 24-46; at W. Caldwell, L 0-44; Alexander Central, L 7-54; Maiden, L 28-67; HIBRITEN, L 0-61; at PATTON, L 14-42; HICKORY, L 28-40; FREEDOM, L 27-55; at ST. STEPHENS, W 41-13; FRED T. FOARD, W 28-20; at WATAUGA, L 21-63.
SCHOOL FOOTBALL HISTORY
Last season in state playoffs: 2015, 4A.
Last state playoff victory: 2015, d. A.L. Brown 23-14, second round.
All-time state playoff bids: 14.
Conference titles since 1980, last: 3 (all outright); 2012 Northwestern 3A-4A.
BY THE NUMBERS
OVERALL
Returning starters: 5.
Returning lettermen: 20.
OFFENSE
Returning starters: 3.
Leading returning rusher: Dustin Herman (10-41, no TDs).
Leading returning passer: Jason Martin (136-240-15, 1,067, 10 TDs).
Leading returning receiver: Austin Raynor (42-486, 3 TDs).
Other players to watch: Spencer Piercy (Soph., RB); Harley Sullivan (Sr., RB); Colton Kirby (Sr., OL); Malakei Sumner (Soph., RB); Colby Rash (Sr., OL).
DEFENSE
Returning starters: 2.
Players to watch: Austin Raynor (Soph., DB); Jonathan Reuscher (Jr., LB); Colton Kirby (Sr., DL); Colby Rash (Sr., DL); Harley Sullivan (Sr., LB); Spencer Piercy (Soph., DB).
OUTLOOK
The Spartans have another week to get ready for their season-opener and the debut game of Kirkpatrick, a former starting QB at his alma mater, as head coach.
Kings Mountain visits Hudson on Aug. 25, and Spartans fans can anticipate seeing a team that will likely continue to throw the ball – Martin was a prolific passer as a freshman – but with a bit more focus on the run being part of the mix as well.
South Caldwell has to rebuild – it has five returning starters – and, for lack of a better term, refocus and see what happens.
Kirkpatrick’s dad, Red, was the first head coach the school had when Granite Falls and Hudson merged in the late 1970s, and established a work ethic that’s still there.
As a rural 4A school, South Caldwell has found getting significant postseason wins against city schools a challenge. But within the context of what a rural 4A school can do, the Spartans have lots to be proud of.
They’re facing a season without a top rusher (Nate Monroe is out with an injury) but do have Martin and their leading receiver (Raynor) back.
By week No. 3, when the Spartans ride the bus to Hibriten, they’ll begin to get an overall feel for what the new Northwestern 3A-4A is going to be like for them.